News
Health Board’s family support showcase event
ORGANISATIONS from Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys have come together to showcase the work of the Integrated Family Support Service (IFSS)and the role it plays in supporting vulnerable children and families. Integrated Family Support Services are a Welsh Government initiative providing support for families whose lives are affected by parental drug and alcohol misuse.
The Mid and West Wales IFSS was established in 2012 and each Integrated Family Support Team brings together highly skilled professionals from social care and health care with specialist experience to work directly with referred families. During its first full year (2013/14) the regional service received 131 family referrals involving 255 children and 12 unborn children.
The Conference, held at Parc Y Scarlets, provided an opportunity for the region’s four Integrated Family Support Teams to come together and share experiences and best practice. Anna Bird, Head of Partnership Development for Vulnerable Children and Families at Hywel Dda UHB, said: “Sometimes families experience difficulties and risk losing their children into care or having their names placed on the Child Protection Register.
The Integrated Family Support Team in each county works with families affected by parental substance misuse to help them to make positive changes so that any concerns are lessened and the children can remain can remain safely at home. “We are particularly grateful to members of families who have been referred to the service who gave their time to informally share their experience of the intervention with attendees.”
Attendees included a wide range of senior managers and professionals from Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys County Councils, Hywel Dda University Health Board and Powys Teaching Health Board, probation services and youth offending services as well as members of the IFSS Regional Family Support Board and other all Wales IFSS Consortium staff. Anna added: “The day provided a fantastic opportunity for the teams to share experiences and for delegates to hear first-hand about the outcomes that have been achieved for children, families and professionals.”
Crime
Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident
A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.
Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.
The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:
- Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
- Common assault
- Assault by beating
No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.
Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.
Crime
Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges
Defendant remanded in custody
A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.
David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
- A second count of assault
- Criminal damage
- An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
- A public order offence
Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.
Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”
A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.
The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.
Crime
Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults
Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing
A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.
Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.
During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.
Charges Include:
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
- Intentional non-fatal strangulation
- Common assault on a woman
- Criminal damage in a domestic context
- Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
- Breach of bail conditions
Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.
Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.
No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.
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tomos
January 10, 2015 at 9:05 am
any one told Pembs. county council that sacking whistle blowers who raise concerns is not the correct way of dealing with the issue ?