Carmarthenshire
Motorist jailed after blaming his 105mph speed on unsuspecting pensioner

A motorist who tried to blame his motorway speeds of 105mph and 92mph on an unsuspecting pensioner has been jailed.
Harald Plumb, aged 61, of Brynmead, Bryn, Llanelli, was clocked doing 105mph on the M4 westbound between junction 48 and Pont Abraham at around 12.45pm on 26 March 2020.
At around 1.30pm, his Mercedes was clocked at 92mph going the opposite way.
A notice of intended prosecution was sent to him on 30 March, 2020, to which he replied to name a 70-year-old man from Swansea on 3 April, 2020.
In response to the Central Ticket Office contacting the 70-year-old, he sent a letter back saying that he did not know the vehicle or who was using his details.
The matter was passed on to PC John Whiles in the GO SAFE road crime enquiry team as it appeared the defendant had falsely nominated the man to avoid prosecution, thus perverting the course of public justice.
In his initial interview, Plumb was challenged on the fact the 70-year-old denied knowledge of him and access to his vehicle. The defendant continued to lie and claimed the man was test driving his car that day having advertised it for sale.
PC Whiles then looked at interrogating telecommunication activity of the defendant’s phone on the day of the speeding offence. This revealed that the defendant’s mobile phone was transmitting a signal close to the original speeding offences’ location.
Further statements from the 70-year-old and his wife were taken, along with them providing permission to interrogate their mobile phones for the relevant time of the offence.
This line of enquiry isolated both the man and his wife’s mobile phones to their home address in Swansea, eliminating him as a suspect.
Plumb was further interviewed on this evidence and again maintained his position that he had the car out on test drive that day to the 70-year-old and he had left his mobile phone in the car.
The case was put before the CPS who duly charged Plumb with perverting the course of public justice.
At Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday, 29 September, 2021, a guilty plea was entered due to the overwhelming evidence, despite initially pleading not guilty.
Judge Paul Thomas QC was unprepared to consider a pre-sentence report as the actions of the defendant proved to be of high culpability, and an Offence against public justice.
Sentencing Plumb, Judge Thomas, criticised him for telling what he described as ”stark, cynical lies”.
Judge Thomas said: ”It strikes at the very heart of justice and undermines everything. The public need to know what happens to people who act like you did.”
Plumb was jailed for six months and disqualified from driving for 15 months.
Prosecuting QC Dean Pulling described the officer’s investigation as dogged and determined.
Judge Thomas reiterated to the court the diligent and hard work of the officer and instructed the prosecutor to notify PC Whiles’ senior officers of this recognition.
Speaking after the hearing, Regional Go Safe Co-Ordinator, PS Ian Price, said: “PC Whiles ought to be commended for his consistent and determined investigation skills he has demonstrated.
“This case is one of six convictions he has secured in the past four months for the offence of perverting the course of public justice.
“His work is helping to reinforce the message that attempting to pervert the course of justice will not work and you will be found out and prosecuted.
“In this case, it has cost a man his liberty. It just isn’t worth it.”
(Lead image: Google Maps)
Ammanford
Man who filmed rape on Ammanford victim’s phone changes plea mid trial

A man who filmed himself raping an Ammanford woman on his victim’s phone has changed his plea to guilty midway through his trial.
Cameron Hassan, aged 31, of no fixed abode, attacked the woman, raping her as she slept on 21 August 2021.
Hassan had been on trial at Swansea Crown Court after denying any wrongdoing. However, after the jury was shown the video of the attack and hearing the victim was going to give evidence yesterday (Tuesday, 10 May), Hassan changed his plea to guilty.
Investigating Officer DC Sophie Lambert from Dyfed Powys Police said the victim had shown great strength and determination throughout the investigation.
“I must commend her tremendous courage in coming forward and the tenacity shown throughout the investigation,” she said.
“We hope this case demonstrates that Dyfed-Powys Police acts on serious allegations such as rape and sexual assault with officers working tirelessly to secure justice for victims.
“If you are suffering because of similar abuse, please contact the police, or if you would rather speak to someone in confidence, New Pathways are an independent charity that will support you through every step of the investigation.”
New Pathways can be contacted at 01685 379 310 or email enquiries@newpathways.org.uk
(Lead image: Google Maps)
Carmarthenshire
Women’s Tour of Britain returns to Carmarthenshire

The countdown is on before the world’s top women riders will race through Carmarthenshire as part of the Women’s Tour of Britain.
Some 108 cyclists will race through the County to the finishing line on top of the Black Mountain between Llangadog and Brynamman as part of the stage five event on Friday, June 10.
The route will be starting from Pembrey Country Park at 10.45am and riders competing for the title will go through Pinged, Carway, Pontyberem, Horeb, Llansawel, and Llangadog.
A rolling road closure will take place along the 65-mile route which will come into action at 10.45am until 1.50pm.
Roads will be re-opened once the cyclists have passed through. A full road closure will be in place over the Black Mountain from 5am-5pm.
The event will be broadcast on ITV4 and across Europe with a helicopter camera crew following the race.
The Women’s Tour departs on Monday, June 6, and coincides with the final day of a four-day Bank Holiday weekend in the UK to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. The race will culminate with a prestigious finale six days later on Saturday, June 11.
Pembrey Country Park previously hosted the Grand Départ of the men’s Tour of Britain as well as the overall finish of the Women’s Tour in 2019.
Carmarthenshire County Council’s Chief Executive, Wendy Walters said: “We are thrilled that we have again been chosen to host this top cycling event. Previous years have brought an immediate economic boost to the tourism sector as well as providing a great deal of positive media coverage.”
(Lead image: Carmarthenshire Council)
Dyfed Powys Police
Man banned from driving for 12 months for fishing offence

A man from Merthyr Tydfil who travelled to the River Loughor, near Llanelli to fish using a barbaric and illegal method, has been banned from driving for 12 months as part of his sentence.
Vu Quang Tien pleaded guilty to an illegal fishing charge and also to a charge of obstruction of a Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Fisheries Enforcement Officer on 26 April at Swansea Magistrates Court.
Mr Tien and two other anglers were witnessed by NRW Fisheries Enforcement Officers deliberately using the illegal foul hooking method of fishing – also known as snatching – at the river Loughor on 15 August 2021. NRW officers attended the site after several reports of illegal fishing were made to NRW’s 24/7 incident call centre by concerned members of the community.
When approached and questioned by NRW officers, Mr Tien and his accomplices showed significant hostility and reluctance to share identification documents which eventually had to be extracted by use of reasonable force.
All of Mr Tien’s fishing tackle and fish, along with his associates’ fishing tackle was seized by NRW Officers at the time of the incident. The district judge on the day at Swansea Magistrates Court gave permission to NRW to confiscate these items permanently from each of them.
The District Judge disqualified Mr Tien from driving for 12 months due to seriousness of the incident, and the premeditated and deliberate action of travelling such a distance to commit the offence.
He was also ordered to pay a total of £2,334 in fines, NRW costs and a victim surcharge.
Mark Thomas, Fisheries Enforcement Officer for NRW, said: “We would like to again thank Dyfed Powys Police, the local communities and also the law-abiding anglers in the area for their continued support in reporting these illegal fishing activities.
“Foul hooking is a truly barbaric form of fishing carried out by a small minority of anglers in Wales, who have no regard for fish welfare.
“NRW and the Police take these incidents seriously as do the courts.
“Hopefully, the small minority of anglers who may in future, think of using any illegal fishing methods will take heed of the heavy fines and driving ban in this case issued by the courts.”
(Lead image: Natural Resources Wales)
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