Two men from Newport have pleaded guilty after a rapid series of break‑ins at Haverfordwest Golf Club and Carmarthen Golf Club in the early hours of Sunday 18 January, leaving tens of thousands of pounds’ worth of damage and stolen equipment across two counties.
Police race to Haverfordwest alarm as break‑in unfolds
Officers were first called at 12.45am when an intruder alarm sounded at Haverfordwest Golf Club. Police arrived within six minutes to find the clubhouse forced open, alarms blaring and the shop stripped of high‑value golf clubs worth up to £500 each.
Around £36,000 of equipment had been taken.
As officers secured the scene, control room staff began tracking vehicles in the area — quickly identifying a red Vauxhall van as a possible getaway vehicle.
A Dyfed‑Powys Police spokesperson said:
“The alarm was still sounding when officers arrived, and it was immediately clear the building had been deliberately forced open.”
Carmarthen club hit minutes later in escalating spree
With intelligence shared across county borders, Carmarthenshire officers patrolled Carmarthen Golf Club as a precaution — only to discover it had also been targeted.
The front door had been smashed in, a yellow crowbar left behind, and around £7,000 of clubs stolen. Damage to the building was estimated at £5,000.
An officer involved in the response said:
“The speed of the second break‑in showed this was a coordinated, fast‑moving burglary spree.”
Fake plates, fake names — but police close in
Shortly after 2am, Roads Policing Officers spotted the suspect van travelling along the A48 towards Pont Abraham. Despite fake number plates, the vehicle was stopped and found loaded with golf clubs and bags.
The driver and passenger initially gave false names — “Richard Smythe” and “Michael Hale” — before admitting their real identities in custody.
They were further arrested for obstructing police.
A Roads Policing Officer said:
“The van was full of golf clubs. There was no doubt we had the right people.”
All stolen items were recovered and returned to the clubs.
Pair appear in court and admit all charges
Mikael Bourkhari, 45, and Simon Dickey, 38, both from Newport, appeared at Llanelli Magistrates Court on Monday 19 January. They pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and one count of obstructing police. Both were remanded into custody until sentencing on 2 February.
Detective Sergeant Sophie Lambert of Dyfed‑Powys Police said:
“Crimes like this have a profound impact on the community, particularly those whose livelihoods depend on their business.”
She added:
“This was a fantastic example of teams across different locations working together to stop these criminals in their tracks.”
DS Lambert said the case should act as a warning:
“We will take robust action against anyone seeking to break the law in our force area.”
