Crime

ProStock Vets fundraising success for Wales Air Ambulance

Published

1 month ago

January 13, 2026

Practice raises nearly £1,400 through Carmarthen Mart events and cycling challenge

PROSTOCK Vets has donated nearly £1,400 to Wales Air Ambulance after staging a series of fundraising events in Carmarthenshire.

The total was raised through a bingo night at the Carmarthen Mart canteen, alongside a cake sale and a static bike ride.

Staff set themselves a 133-mile target — matching the distance between the practice’s branches — and went on to exceed it by continuing to cycle after the target had been reached while the mart was taking place.

The practice, which was formed in 2011, has supported the all-Wales lifesaving service since 2016 and has now raised around £5,100 in total.

Sarah-Jane Beynon of ProStock Vets said: “We were really pleased to raise money for such a worthy charity and think our views were reflected in the way the farming community supported us with their presence and generosity for both events.

“The Wales Air Ambulance is an incredibly important charity, and one we often have dealings with or hear about in our line of work. It’s an imperative service to have in the area. We were, therefore, very pleased to be able to play a small part in supporting the Wales Air Ambulance as a charity!”

Wales Air Ambulance is a consultant-led service which can deliver hospital-standard treatment at the scene and, where needed, transfer patients directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury.

The service operates through a partnership model, with the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) providing NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work onboard the charity’s vehicles.

Its advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and carry out minor procedures at the scene of an incident. As a pan-Wales service, crews will respond across the country regardless of where they are based.

ProStock Vets has branches in Carmarthen, Llangadog, Teifi, Lampeter and Whitland.

The latest fundraising follows previous efforts by staff at the practice. In 2021, vet Cath Tudor, from Carmarthenshire, completed a 980-mile cycle challenge from Land’s End to John O’Groats, raising £5,076 for Wales Air Ambulance and £3,000 for the DPJ Foundation, a mental health charity supporting the farming community.

Mike May, Regional Fundraising Manager for Wales Air Ambulance, said: “A huge thank you to everyone at ProStock Vets in Carmarthen who have once again raised an amazing amount for our lifesaving service. Since 2016 ProStock Vets has raised over £5,000, which is incredible.

“ProStock Vets know the value of the Wales Air Ambulance to their clients and to themselves and have been big supporters of us.

“Our service is purely funded by charitable donations, and we need to raise £13 million every year to keep our helicopters in the air and our rapid response vehicles on the road. Every pound raised by ProStock Vets will help save lives across Wales! Thank you so much for your continued support.”

Crime

Man who threw corrosive liquid at guest and fled abroad jailed

Published

6 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Court Reporter

A BUSINESSMAN who threw a corrosive liquid into a guest’s face during a row at a spiritual retreat before fleeing the country has been jailed for 18 months.

Dean Mayze, aged 38, from Abercrave in Powys, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm following the attack at his Hafan-y-Coed retreat in December 2022.

Swansea Crown Court heard the assault happened after an argument with guest Keifer Price, who had complained about the condition of his accommodation, including a lack of heating and washing facilities.

During the confrontation, Mayze produced a blue container and threw its contents upwards into the victim’s face.

The liquid — described as smelling like ammonia — entered Mr Price’s eyes, nose and mouth, leaving him in severe pain and struggling to breathe.

Medical evidence confirmed injuries consistent with a chemical burn to both eyes. He suffered abrasions, a corneal defect and the loss of the outer corneal layer in one eye, requiring significant treatment to prevent permanent sight loss. He has since recovered without lasting injury.

Fled across Europe

Following the attack, Mayze fled the UK, triggering an international search.

The court heard he travelled across several European countries, including Ireland, France, Italy, Croatia and Greece, before eventually being arrested in Romania in 2025.

Despite being on the run, he remained in regular contact with police by text and email, at one point telling officers he would not be returning to Wales.

His partner initially claimed responsibility for the assault and later received a suspended prison sentence after admitting perverting the course of justice.

Previous conviction

The court was told Mayze has a previous conviction for wounding involving a corrosive substance in Kent in 2013.

Defence barrister Andrew Taylor said his client had experienced harsh conditions while detained in Romania, including contracting scabies without treatment, and described him as remorseful.

However, Judge Geraint Walters said it was “pure luck” the victim had not suffered permanent injuries, describing the attack as a “particularly wicked way of inflicting violence”.

Sentence and order

Mayze, who appeared via video link from prison, had previously denied a more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

He was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and made subject to a three-year restraining order.

Crime

Police appeal after man injured in St Davids incident

Published

12 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE are appealing for witnesses following an incident in St Davids which left one man injured.

The incident happened in Nun Street at around 11:10am on Tuesday, December 30. The injured man was taken to hospital for treatment.

Officers confirmed that a man has been arrested on suspicion of assault in connection with the incident.

Police are now asking anyone with information, dash cam footage, or CCTV that could assist the investigation to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online at:
https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us-beta/contact-us/

Alternatively, email [email protected], send a direct message via social media, or call 101 quoting reference DP20251230094.

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.

Crime

Sexual assault allegation to be tried

Published

12 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Tamsin Mathias

Accused granted conditional bail

A SEXUAL assault allegation has been listed for trial following a hearing before magistrates.

David Fletcher, 45, of Chestnut Way, Mount Estate, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, appeared before magistrates in Llanelli on Thursday (Feb 12) charged with sexual assault, contrary to section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The charge alleges that on March 16, 2025, at Johnston, Pembrokeshire, he intentionally touched a woman aged 16 or over and that the touching was sexual when she did not consent and he did not reasonably believe that she was consenting.

The matter was adjourned for trial and Fletcher was remanded on conditional bail.

The trial is listed for March 9, 2026 at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court. Bail conditions prohibit him from entering a specified premises in Johnston, from contacting directly or indirectly the complainant or any prosecution witnesses, and from posting any information relating to the investigation on social media. The conditions were imposed to prevent further offending and to prevent interference with witnesses or obstruction of justice.