Caernarfon Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

On the evening of January 13, Andrew Martin, while intoxicated, argued with his ex-partner Natalie Hughes at her flat in Colwyn Bay, accusing her of infidelity. He lunged at her while she was on her bed, strangling her with both hands to the point she could not breathe, and punched her repeatedly to the head and face, leaving her bloodied. When she threatened to call the police, he smashed a vase over his own head and falsely accused her of the assault, leading to her being taken to A&E for a deep wound to her lip and bruising to her head, face, and neck.

In 2023, Huw Meredydd Groom, a social care worker at Aran Hall School in Rhydymain, engaged in sexually explicit online discussions with three undercover police officers posing as mothers of teenage girls. He discussed teaching their teenagers how to commit sexual acts. None of the offences involved pupils at the school. He was arrested and sentenced accordingly.

Callum Jones threatened to slit the throat of his retired neighbour, Clifford Nicholls, while carrying a knife during a conversation about a bicycle repair in Holyhead. He later returned and threatened to bring friends to kill him. Additionally, Jones possessed an imitation firearm (a BB gun resembling a Glock 17 pistol) and threatened to use it against the partner of a woman he met online, with whom he had consensual sex in a public toilet's baby changing room. These events occurred in November, while he was on bail for the earlier threat.

On April 17, 2023, Paula Clutton breached her Criminal Behaviour Order by engaging in threatening behaviour outside a solicitors' office in Benllech, where she shouted, kicked, and punched the office doors, causing criminal damage. She then entered Rowlands Pharmacy and stole four bottles of perfume worth £83.97 while heavily intoxicated. This incident followed a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order issued on January 6, 2023, prohibiting such behaviour.

Darren Jones stole £7,808.58 from his friend Hannah Parry between January 2 and May 14, 2023, by misusing her bank card. He exploited her trust after the death of her friend in January 2023, frequently visiting her under the guise of helping, including collecting her shopping. Ms Parry, a single mother of three children with additional learning needs, discovered the theft when her card was declined at Asda in Llangefni in May 2023, leaving her struggling financially and unable to trust others.

Jesse Crofts was arrested at a Travelodge hotel in Holyhead on December 16, 2022, after police found him in possession of a small amount of cannabis and drug paraphernalia in his rucksack. Analysis of his mobile phone revealed messages indicating he was acting as a street dealer of cocaine on a limited basis, with most messages relating to the supply of cannabis. He was introduced to cannabis by his father at around age 13 and has a history of use, though he has reportedly reduced his intake and works in a cleaning business while supporting his grandmother and pregnant partner.

On October 25, 2022, police attended Anthony Cowperthwaite’s home in Holyhead regarding a separate matter and discovered 869 grams of cannabis in his bedroom, including 30 wraps, one separate deal weighing 801 grams, scales, and additional bags, with a total street value of £8,690. He shared the property with a friend and the drugs were found in his personal space.

Gwenno Ephraim pleaded guilty to six charges, including the assault of a healthcare worker at the Hergest mental health unit in Ysbyty Gwynedd. This occurred following a difficult transition to college, the pandemic, and a traumatic family event that impacted her mental health, leading to her first involvement in the criminal justice system.

On the afternoon of Monday, 18 August, outside Caffi Seren on Bethesda High Street, Thomas Baker deliberately drove his white Audi A3 into a 37-year-old male victim at speed after a physical altercation involving the victim, his friend, Baker, and another male. CCTV footage showed the car turning around, accelerating towards the victim, mounting the kerb, and striking him from behind. The force of the impact threw the victim up in the air, leaving him unconscious on the pavement with significant head wounds and other injuries. Police and ambulance crews responded to 999 calls, and the victim was conveyed to hospital. Baker fled the scene but was detected, arrested on 19 August, and charged with multiple offences.

Garmon Thomas, a 52-year-old homeless man, confronted Eric Ledru and his friends in Llandudno on February 1 after they parked near where he was sleeping. He racially abused Mr Ledru, telling him to 'f*** off' and 'go back to your own country', then pulled out a 3cm Stanley knife, threatened to slash their car tyres, and attempted to stab the tyre before they drove away. Thomas was arrested, and the incident was part of his ongoing issues related to homelessness and drug addiction.