4 days ago
Milford Haven paedophile built illegal patio at Pill Priory
James Kerhsaw committed the offence at Pill Priory, Milford Haven where he has a home in the grounds of the ruins of the 12th Century Tironensian monastery.
The defendant – jailed for nearly four years for a sexual offence against a child – made a 'flagrant decision' to build the patio at the medieval site.
Tom Scapens, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court: 'The defendant bought a property at Pill Priory in 2014.
(Image: Pill Priory)
'It is at the site of an important historical monument.
'He ignored strict rules to erect the structure in breach of planning rules or consent.'
An investigation by Cadw, the Welsh Government's historic environment service, took 'hundreds of hours and cost tens of thousands of pounds'.
Kershaw, aged 45, admitted constructing an unauthorised work.
His barrister Jon Tarrant asked that his client be given the appropriate credit for his guilty plea.
(Image: James Kerhsaw)
The defendant appeared in court from custody.
He is due to be released next month from his prison sentence imposed for his child sex offence conviction.
Judge Catherine Richards told Kershaw: 'This was a flagrant decision to flout the rules – you did what you wanted to do.
'There has also been a financial impact in that there will need to be remedial work.'
The defendant was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay a £120 victim surcharge.
Judge Richards said he will have to serve two months in prison in default if he does not pay the fine.
Gardener Kershaw made national headlines six years ago when he beat a council order to tear down a shed at Pill Priory – by fitting wheels to it.
He was told to tear down the 20ft wooden shed after the local authority ruled it harmed the view of the neighbouring historic ruins.
Kershaw then fitted the wheels and claimed it was now 'chattel' – a movable piece of property – rather than a building and thus the enforcement notice from Pembrokeshire council to remove it was not valid.
In 2019 he appeared before Llanelli Magistrates' Court where a district judge rejected his argument and said the wheels were 'deliberate defiance' and Kershaw was fined £700 and ordered to pay £2,200 costs.
An appeal later that year at Swansea Crown Court was successful when it emerged that he was advised by a council planning officer to fit the wheels and a judge ruled the prosecution subsequently brought against him was illegal.
