A PEMBROKE man who is alleged to have assaulted a woman and then set fire to her family home over the weekend has been released on bail.
Lloyd Jenkins of Hundleton, Pembroke, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, October 19, to face three charges.
In the early hours of Sunday, October 16, the police and the fire service were called to a property in Richard John Road, Milford Haven, after receiving reports of a fire.
Police remained on the scene for the majority of the day and later released a statement appealing for information about the fire, which they described as ‘unexplained’.
Appearing in the dock, 33-year-old Jenkins was charged with one count of criminal damage, one count of assault by beating and one count of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.
According to the charge sheet, in the early hours of October 16, it is alleged that the defendant destroyed property belonging to a female victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, namely a TV, a TV stand, a photo canvas and a kitchen chair.
The court heard that Jenkins is also alleged to have assaulted the victim by beating her.
The charge of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered, was laid against the defendant in respect to the victims home, which according to local reports has been left uninhabitable.
Fortunately, no persons were inside the property when the fire started.
At the time of the incident, a Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson told The Herald: “Police attended a fire which occurred at a property in Richard John Road, Milford Haven in the early hours of Sunday morning, 16th October 2022.
“No-one was in the property at the time and no damage was caused to surrounding properties.
“The fire is currently being treated as unexplained.”
No plea was indicated to the charges and Jenkins will now face trial at crown court.
Magistrates released the defendant on conditional bail.
Jenkins will next appear at Swansea Crown Court on November 16 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.
As part of the bail conditions, Jenkins must not contact directly or indirectly the victim and must live and sleep at the address given to court.
