News

Davies brands trail hunting ban a ‘spiteful attack on rural Wales’

Published

6 months ago

December 22, 2025

A SENIOR Welsh Conservative has accused the UK Government of launching a “spiteful attack on rural communities” after confirming plans to ban trail hunting as part of a new animal welfare strategy.

South Wales Central MS Andrew RT Davies said the proposed ban had nothing to do with animal welfare and was instead driven by “urban elites who neither understand nor care for the countryside”.

Trail hunting, which involves laying a scent trail for hounds to follow rather than pursuing a live animal, has remained legal since the Hunting Act came into force in 2004. Ministers now say the practice is being used as a “smokescreen” for illegal hunting and should be outlawed.

However, Mr Davies dismissed that justification as “spurious”, arguing that no animals are killed during trail hunting and that genuine animal welfare concerns are being ignored.

He pointed to the continued problem of illegal hare coursing in parts of south Wales, particularly in the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend, which he described as “cruel” and largely unchallenged.

Mr Davies said: “Banning trail hunting is another attack on our rural communities. No animals are killed.

“This policy is being imposed by urban elites who neither understand nor care for the countryside.

“In the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend, we face real problems with hare coursing. It’s an illegal practice. It’s cruel.

“Have authorities done anything about this? No. It still goes on.

“This shows the real motive behind this ban. It’s not animal welfare. It’s a spiteful attack on the rural way of life.”

The UK Government has said the ban fulfils a manifesto commitment and insists trail hunting is being misused to circumvent existing hunting laws. Ministers have confirmed a consultation on the details of the ban will take place in the new year.

Countryside groups have warned the move could harm rural economies and further alienate farming and hunting communities, who already feel overlooked by policymakers.

Trail hunting is already banned in Scotland, while hunting with dogs remains legal in Northern Ireland.

Critics of the ban argue that enforcement resources would be better directed at tackling proven illegal activities, such as hare coursing, rather than outlawing a practice they say is lawful and regulated.

Crime

Milford Haven builder banned for second drug-driving offence

Published

25 seconds ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Court hears cannabis reading was five times the legal limit

A SELF-EMPLOYED builder has been banned from the road after committing his second drug-driving offence in ten years.

Robert Duncan, 44, was stopped by police at around 6:00pm on January 31 as he drove a Ford Focus along Steynton Road, Milford Haven.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard this week that officers had been observing the vehicle before requesting it to stop.

Duncan provided a positive roadside drugs wipe, and later blood tests showed he had 10mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2mcg.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told magistrates that this was Duncan’s second drug-driving offence within ten years.

Duncan, of Meyler Crescent, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to drug-driving.

He was represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher, who said Duncan had believed the drug would have left his system by the time he got behind the wheel.

“He believed the drug would have been out of his system when he was driving, but it can take a considerable length of time to go,” said Mr Kelleher.

“In fact, this is the drug that takes the longest amount of time.”

Mr Kelleher said Duncan worked as a self-employed builder, but was currently unable to work large amounts of time because of family commitments.

Magistrates disqualified Duncan from driving for three years. He was also fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £32 surcharge.

Crime

Woman sentenced over neglect of child at Haverfordwest property

Published

4 minutes ago

June 24, 2026

Court Reporter

Court hears defendant was found under the influence in town centre late at night

A 40-YEAR-OLD Pembrokeshire woman has been sentenced after admitting assaulting, ill-treating, neglecting and abandoning a child in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court that at around 11:00pm on July 28, 2025, police officers on duty in Haverfordwest town centre saw the defendant attempting to make her way along the road.

“She was clearly under the influence of drink and drugs,” Ms Vaughan said.

Officers escorted the woman back to her property, where she struggled to find her keys.

“At this point, she stated there was a child, aged between eleven and twelve, inside the property who had been there for around two hours, between 9:00pm and 11:00pm,” said Ms Vaughan.

The defendant pleaded guilty to assaulting, ill-treating, neglecting and abandoning the child.

She was represented by solicitor Jess Hill, who told the court the woman had begun using alcohol as a coping mechanism to deal with childhood trauma.

“But since then she has significantly reduced her alcohol intake and now wants to engage with the Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service to help her further,” said Ms Hill.

After considering a detailed probation report, magistrates fined the defendant £80 and ordered her to pay a £32 surcharge.

No prosecution costs were awarded due to the length of time it had taken for the case to be brought before the court.

Crime

Haverfordwest father stole groceries amid cost-of-living struggle

Published

12 minutes ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Court hears shop theft was a ‘split-second decision’ while family finances were under pressure

A HAVERFORDWEST man who stole more than £90 worth of groceries from Iceland has been sentenced after a court heard he was struggling to support his family during the cost-of-living crisis.

Michael Tomlin, 41, of Coronation Avenue, Haverfordwest, entered the town’s Iceland store on March 21 and removed a number of items from the shelves before leaving without paying.

Staff witnessed the incident and CCTV footage later showed Tomlin exiting the store without making any attempt to pay for the goods. The total value of the stolen items was £93.62.

Tomlin appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week, where he pleaded guilty to theft.

Representing him in court, solicitor Alaw Harries said Tomlin and his wife had been experiencing significant financial difficulties while trying to provide for their two young children.

“At the time, he and his wife were struggling financially while trying to support their two young children,” she said.

“But the weekly food shop has become more difficult. When he entered the store, he fully intended to pay for the items, but it was a foolish, split-second decision that he made to steal.”

The court heard that Tomlin made a full admission when interviewed by police.

Magistrates fined him £80 and ordered him to pay £93.62 compensation to Iceland. He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £32 victim surcharge.