News
Machete wielding Pagan off the hook
MAGISTRATES found that a man did have a good reason to be holding a machete and an axe at Haverfordwest Law Courts on Monday (Dec 15). Aaron Simpson, aged 23, of Maeshenffordd in Cardigan, pleaded not guilty to two charges of possessing the two items. The magistrates heard how Simpson is a Pagan and that he was going to collect wood to start a small fire to help clear his head following an argument with his mother. Prosecuting, Nick Newton said: “This incident occurred in the early hours of October 24, 2014 at around 1.20am. “PC Garney was on duty in an unmarked police car on Maeshenffordd when he saw Mr Simpson walking in the street and noticed that he was not wearing a top.
“The officer saw the man put two items on the ground before approaching the police car. When the officer asked who he was, he became confrontational, claiming ‘everyone knows who I am’ and stated that he was just out for a walk. “After a short while, the officer went back to him again and informed him that he was going to search him, as he suspected he had something he shouldn’t have. “He put his stuff on the floor and pulled his trousers down, saying ‘is that good enough for you officer?’
The officer called for a temporary sergeant to attend the area and informed him when he arrived that he was going to search the area where he had first spotted Mr Simpson. “He heard Simpson shout ‘you’ll find an axe and a machete up there’. He picked up the items, which were an axe and a machete. Simpson said ‘I told you there was an axe and a machete. He told the officers that he had previously had an argument with his mother and that he was going to collect wood to start a small fire to clear his head.”
A recording of his interview at the station was then played to the court and when Simpson was asked why he put the items on the ground he said: “I could hear a car coming and I didn’t want to make anyone feel ill at ease.” Simpson also told the court that he has had noise abatement notices to his flat and he has been told not to burn certain things but added he has not been told that he cannot start a fire.
He also told the magistrates that he is a qualified tree surgeon, and he listed a number of other similar qualifications that he has. Summing up the prosecution case Nick Newton added: “If you decide to cut wood, you wouldn’t walk down the street with no top on. The items would not be on display and you would not be confrontational with the police. Defending, Robin Reed said: “He is a Pagan and he believes in living off the land and at this time he was observing the pagan festival known as Samhain.
“He is quite proud of those items as he has restored them himself. They are used for cutting wood and they have no other purpose. “He did tell the officers what he was doing and he explained his account in great detail. “In terms of placing the items down this was quite a sensible thing to do as he didn’t want a confrontation with anybody. There has been no threat to use the items at any point”. Magistrates found that he did have a good reason to hold the axe and the machete and found him not guilty of the offence citing that he has an alternative lifestyle. They also warned him that he should be aware of others when out and about in the future.
Crime
Man, 37, found dead following major police response in Pembroke Dock
Death not being treated as suspicious as police make statutory referral to IOPC following active investigation
A 37-YEAR-OLD man has been found dead at Warrior Way in Pembroke Dock.
Dyfed-Powys Police said officers attended the area at around 7pm on Sunday, July 19, after concerns were raised for the welfare of an individual.
There was a significant police presence in the area, with several units positioned at the scene on Sunday and further police activity continuing into Monday.
The scale of the response prompted speculation among members of the public about the nature of the incident.
Police have now confirmed that the man was found deceased and that his death is not being treated as suspicious.
His next of kin have been informed.
HM Coroner has been advised, and officers will continue to assist with the coroner’s investigation.
The matter has also been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct because the man had been involved in an active police investigation.
Dyfed-Powys Police said the referral was made in line with the IOPC’s statutory referral criteria.
Such referrals are required in certain circumstances and do not, in themselves, indicate that police officers or staff are suspected of wrongdoing.
Charity
Salvation Army offers free meals and school uniforms to families across Wales
Children in Mold can receive free meals throughout the summer holidays, while thousands of school uniform items are being distributed through centres in Swansea and Cardiff
THE SALVATION ARMY is helping families across Wales cope with the additional cost of the school summer holidays by providing free meals for children and free school uniforms ahead of the new academic year.
Its church and community centre in Mold is opening from 9.30am until 3pm, Tuesday to Saturday, throughout the Welsh school holidays.
Free meals are available to all children aged under 16, with no requirement for accompanying adults to purchase anything.
Major Michelle Hayter said the scheme had made a significant difference to families in the area over recent years.
She said: “If your children usually receive free school meals, suddenly having to provide lunch, snacks and activities every day can be costly.
“By offering free meals, we are helping families free up money so they can enjoy the fun things their children want to do.
“When we remind parents that the meals are free, you can see the smile on their faces.”
The Mold centre is also holding recycling-themed craft sessions on selected days, including activities such as making mosaic coasters, decorating jars and creating bird feeders.
The charity is also supporting parents who may already be concerned about the cost of buying school uniforms for September.
Salvation Army charity shops and donation centres across Wales are offering free school uniform items, subject to availability.
Donation centres in Gorseinon, Swansea, and Cardiff have already distributed more than 3,000 items donated by Bridgend-based school uniform supplier Euroschools Direct.
Craig Mawer, manager at Euroschools Direct, said the company wanted its unused stock to benefit families rather than go to waste.
He said: “We are really pleased the uniforms have been able to support The Salvation Army’s work.
“When we realised we had unused stock, we wanted it to make a genuine difference rather than end up as waste.
“The Salvation Army felt like the right choice because of its strong community presence and the support it offers to parents facing financial pressure.”
Families seeking help are advised to contact their nearest Salvation Army church, community centre, charity shop or donation centre to find out what support is available locally.
Business
Dedicated 5G network introduced at Royal Welsh Show to keep livestreams running
BT says protected mobile connection will help Welsh traders process card payments and allow organisers to share live content during periods of heavy network demand
DEDICATED 5G connectivity is being used at this year’s Royal Welsh Show to prevent card payments, livestreams and other essential digital services from being disrupted when the showground becomes crowded.
BT and the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society are demonstrating new 5G+ “network slicing” technology at the event, which is expected to attract as many as 250,000 visitors during its four-day run.
The technology creates a dedicated and protected section of the EE mobile network for specific services or organisations.
This means businesses using the connection should continue to receive reliable mobile coverage even when thousands of visitors are simultaneously using their phones, potentially placing the wider public network under significant pressure.
At the showground, the dedicated connection is supporting payment systems operated by Welsh food and drink businesses Radnor Hills and Fire and Flank.
BT says the system will help traders process card payments quickly during peak periods, reducing the risk of lengthy queues or lost sales caused by network congestion.
Chris Butler, marketing manager at Radnor Hills, said dependable connectivity was essential because thousands of visitors use the company’s stands during the show.
He said: “The Royal Welsh Show is one of the most important events in our calendar, both as a proud Welsh business and a long-standing supporter of the show itself.
“With thousands of visitors stopping by our stands every day, dependable connectivity for our payment systems is essential to keeping queues moving and making sure customers can quickly grab a drink and get back to enjoying their day.
“Having a dedicated 5G+ network slice gives us greater confidence that we can continue serving people smoothly, even during the busiest periods.”
Fire and Flank is exhibiting at the Royal Welsh Show for the first time.
Founder and director David Evans said: “When demand is high, the last thing any business wants is connectivity issues slowing down card payments or creating long queues.
“Reliable connectivity for our electronic point-of-sale systems helps us serve customers quickly, deliver a great experience and focus on what matters most, sharing our food with visitors.”
The technology is also being used by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society’s communications team and 2026 show ambassador Teleri-Haf Thomas.
It will allow them to livestream, upload videos and share content from the showground, even when tens of thousands of visitors are using the public network.
Aled Jones, chief executive of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, said mobile connectivity had become increasingly important to the running of the event.
He said: “The Royal Welsh Show is about bringing together hundreds of thousands of people from across Wales and beyond, and connectivity has become an increasingly important part of that experience.
“From supporting exhibitors and traders to helping our team deliver the event safely and efficiently, reliable mobile connectivity plays a vital role.
“Working with BT to showcase 5G+ network slicing demonstrates how next-generation mobile technology can support critical operations while helping us share the best of Welsh agriculture, food and rural life with audiences both on the showground and online.”
The Royal Welsh Show trial is described as one of the first large-scale public demonstrations in the UK of network slicing being used to support both business-critical services and visitor experiences at a major event.
BT is preparing to launch its first network slicing services to customers later this summer.
Adam Price, the Welsh Government’s Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, said: “It is important that visitors and businesses alike experience high-quality digital connectivity at nationally significant events like the Royal Welsh Show.
“BT and the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society have committed to ensuring the event benefits from world-class technology, and I am pleased Welsh Government collaboration has helped to make this possible.”
Greg McCall, BT’s chief security and networks officer, said the technology could provide businesses and organisations with more predictable connectivity during major events.
He said: “Whether it is buying food and drink from local traders, sharing moments from the show on social media or following the action online, people increasingly expect seamless connectivity wherever they are.
“By providing dedicated, high-performance connectivity for specific applications, we are helping businesses keep payments flowing, enabling reliable livestreaming and content uploads, and showing how next-generation mobile technology can support better experiences for organisations and consumers alike.”
BT has upgraded equipment at the Royal Welsh Showground and a neighbouring mobile mast in Builth Wells as part of the project.
The company says it has invested more than £500 million in fixed and mobile connectivity across Wales since 2020.
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