News
Drink driver ‘posed a significant risk’
A WOMAN, who had 115 micrograms of alcohol in her breath, ‘posed a significant risk’ to other road users, Haverfordwest Magistrates heard on Tuesday. Nicola Thorpe, aged 43, of West End Cottages in Robeston Wathen, was disqualified from driving for 28 months after she pleaded guilty to drink driving which on the afternoon of November 18. Prosecuting, Ellie Morgan said: “At half six on Tuesday, November 18, Officer Cousins was on duty in an unmarked police vehicle.
“He came behind a silver BMW, which he describes as being almost stationary. The officer moved closer and at this point the driver pulled away. “The car veered across the white lines in the centre of the road and the officer was so alarmed at this he called for a marked police car to attend the area. “The car then veered out on to the wrong side of the road and narrowly missed another vehicle coming in the opposite direction. “They travelled through Robeston Wathen before the driver pulled off into the car park of the Bush Pub. “On speaking to the woman the officer could immediately smell alcohol and a road side test returned a positive result and she was then arrested. “She told the officer that she had had a couple of drinks of wine. “The officer then went back to the area where he first saw her and noticed silver paint on the wall, but there was no damage to it. “At the station, the lower reading of alcohol in her breath was 115 micrograms in 100 millilitres of breath.”
Defending, Mr Phillips said: “He has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and I ask that you will consider her for the drink rehabilitation course, and deal with this by way of a community order. “On the day in question, she was in Narberth celebrating a birthday with friends. She had a telephone call from her daughter to say there was a fire in the village near their home, and she felt she needed to get home. Unfortunately she now finds herself in this situation.” Probation officer, Julie Norman was asked to prepare a report on Thorpe. She said: “This was a high reading. She had gone to Narberth and had a few drinks. She pre-arranged for her husband to pick her up at 6. “At around 5pm she received a call to say that there was a fire.
Her house was only a mile and a half away. “She had a high level of alcohol in her system and was a high risk to other road users. She is remorseful for her actions and denies any drinking issues as she does not normally drink and drive.” The chairman of the bench said: “We are treating this as a very serious offence, the reading was very high and you did pose a significant risk to others. “We can see you are remorseful and feel a community order would not be suitable.” Magistrates gave her a fine for the offence of £160. She was also ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £20 victim surcharge. She was disqualified from driving for 28 months, but was offered the driver rehabilitation course, which could reduce her ban by a quarter.
Education
Delight as foundation phase learners return to class

PEMBROKESHIRE Headteachers have reported very positive returns to school for Foundation Phase Learners.
All Foundation Phase Learners returned to schools on Monday, March 1st and attendance has been reported at almost 90% since.
The Council’s Director for Education, Steven Richards-Downes, said: “A wide range of council services have worked together to ensure that Foundation Phase pupils have been able to return
safely to school.
“I am particularly grateful to all school staff and families for ensure that learning is now available for our youngest learners face to face.”
Headteachers remarked how schools have filled with smiles and laughter following the safe and phased return of Foundation Phase learners.
Cora O’Brien, Headteacher at Waldo Williams School in Haverfordwest emphasised how quickly learners have settled back in to a routine.
“It has been an absolute joy to hear their laughter in the playground and to observe their love of learning face to face once again. I thank everybody in the Waldo Williams School
community for working so hard to ensure that the transition went smoothly.”
Vicky Hart-Griffiths, Headteacher of Ysgol Hafan y Mor in Tenby, said: “It has been wonderful to welcome all our Foundation Phase learners back to school. They are thriving, being amongst
friends and back to a school routine.
“All the pupils have spoken about how happy they are to have returned and it’s an absolute pleasure to welcome them back and we can’t wait until we have all our pupils back in school.
“The school feels alive again and there’s a positive buzz and laughter once again echoing throughout the school.”
Gareth Lewis, Headteacher at Broad Haven CP School said children had returned “with real enthusiasm, and have been very keen to meet up with their friends.”
Mr Lewis added: “Our parents have been very supportive and positive about the return, and those with older children are very much looking forward to a wider return to schooling.”
Mr Richards-Downes said plans were now turning to more learners returning to schools in the near future.
“We are looking to the next phases of the re-opening of schools on the 15th of March as long as the government guidelines allow.”
Further details will be released in due course.
News
Pembrokeshire County Council: This week’s Leader’s coronavirus update

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Leader, Councillor David Simpson, has provided a further coronavirus update for Friday, 5th March as follows:
‘Welcome everyone to my weekly update.
“It is with rather a heavy heart that I tell you that it’s almost 12 months since my first statement on the coronavirus pandemic.
“On 9th March 2020, I addressed our Cabinet meeting with the following words:
“Further to the news yesterday that two people in Pembrokeshire had tested as positive for the Covid 19 virus, I am sure you will join me in wishing them both a speedy and full recovery.
“I can reassure you that our services will continue as usual, and all our employees can continue to attend to their work, appointments, schools and services as they normally would.
“We should all help protect ourselves and our communities by following Public Health Wales advice, particularly around washing hands and using a tissue for symptoms associated with cold and flu and then safely disposing of it.
“I am grateful to the co-operation and hard work of all of our staff and we will provide further updates and information when we have them.
“In the meantime I can confirm that detailed planning arrangements, both internally, with partner agencies and through the Dyfed Powys Local Resilience Forum, are well underway to ensure that the Council and Pembrokeshire are as well placed as possible for whatever challenges we may face. Thank you.”
“I am sure you will join me while I take a moment now to remember all those people in Pembrokeshire and further afield, who, very sadly, passed away since I made that announcement.
“I continue to be incredibly grateful, as I’m sure you are, to everyone who is helping to beat this pandemic, working so very hard now for over a year.
“We are fortunate now to be in a position where the vaccine programme is protecting older members of our community and starting to roll out among one of the biggest groups – the over 65s and those with underlying health conditions.
“This time next week (12th March) the Welsh Government will have notified us of their plans for the next three weeks.
“In the meantime, we remain in Alert Level 4 and the stay at home message continues to be more important than ever as we reach the threshold of better times.
“I wish you all a good weekend and thank you once again to the vast majority of wonderful Pembrokeshire residents who are doing the right thing and waiting patiently at home for restrictions to lift.
“We do really appreciate your efforts and determination to help bring this pandemic to an end.”
News
Sergeant Hillier ‘died doing the job he loved’, says his heartbroken father

THE ARMY SERGEANT who died after being injured in a live firing exercise, has been named locally.
The incident occurred at Castlemartin Training Area, and led to the death of Sgt Gavin Hillier, who was in the Welsh Guards.
In a post on social media, his father wrote: “Absolutely devastated to be writing this post, probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.
“At 3.45am this morning I received a phone call that will forever change my life. My eldest son Gavin Mark Hillier was in a fatal accident yesterday in the army (the job he loved).
“Sleep tight & rest in peace son. I’m so proud of you. Goodnight and god bless, love your heartbroken dad.”
An Army spokesperson said: “It is with great sadness we can confirm the death of a soldier on March 4.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this tragic time.
“The circumstances surrounding this death are being investigated and it would be inappropriate to comment any further.”
It is understood that Sergeant Hillier, who served as part of the Welsh Guards’ motor transport platoon, was due to be deployed to Iraq and had previously been awarded a Long Service and Good Conduct medal by Prince Charles, the regiment’s Colonel in Chief, in 2019.
The tragic incident is the latest in a number of accidents at Castlemartin.
In 2017, The Herald reported that two soldiers died in a tank explosion, which a coroner ruled was due to a design flaw.
The following year, an Army captain was jailed in July 2018 after a 21-year-old soldier was killed by a stray bullet during an exercise at the range in 2012.
An investigation has been launched into the death of a soldier at Castlemartin RAC Range following a military exercise.
Police were called to the site at just before 10.45pm on March 4.
Sadly, a man was pronounced dead shortly after. Our thoughts are with his family, who have been informed of the incident and are being supported by specialist officers.
An investigation is underway led by Dyfed-Powys Police. Officers are liaising with the Health and Safety Executive and MoD.
-
News2 days ago
Milford Haven-bound ‘flying oil tanker’ hits the national news
-
News6 days ago
Milford Haven: Apocalyptic scenes as work truck catches fire in Meyler Crescent
-
News3 days ago
Trial date for son accused of killing mum
-
News2 days ago
Welsh Guards sergeant shot dead during Castlemartin live-fire training exercise
-
News1 day ago
Sergeant Hillier ‘died doing the job he loved’, says his heartbroken father
-
News2 days ago
Pembrokeshire County Council bills Home Office for Penally camp costs
-
Business2 days ago
Hospitality sector welcomes Budget boost
-
Business5 days ago
Natural Resources Wales approves Ireland-UK interconnector licence