News
Narberth man sent a semi-naked photograph of his ex to her own son

UNABLE to accept his relationship was over, a Narberth man sent a semi-naked photograph of his ex to her own son and then posted similar pictures on Facebook suggesting she was seeking male company.
Stephen Patrick Stokes bombard the victim at her home in Yeovil, Somerset, with a string of emails and text messages before sending the distressing photograph.
The victim decided not to go ahead with a prosecution to protect her privacy. However when he resumed contact again it was the “final straw” so she called the police and he was arrested.
Stokes, 59, of Redstone Road, appeared in the dock before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil.
He pleaded guilty that between May 1 and June 25 last year he pursued a course of conduct which amounted to the harassment of the female complainant in that he contacted her by text messages, emails and letters and via third parties.
Prosecutor Ben Winzer said that the couple had been in a relationship for five years when she ended it in March 2018 so Stokes moved to Pembrokeshire but did not take the separation well.
“The victim was texted, phoned, messaged and sent letters from the defendant who attempted to reignite the relationship,” he said.
“She also disclosed that Stokes had sent a semi-naked picture of the complainant to her adult son and posted like images on his Facebook profile suggesting she was seeking male company.
“She declined to prosecute because of her privacy, however on May 17 the defendant was contacted by police and told about the disclosure of the photo and he accepted his behaviour had been unacceptable and was warned that any further problems would lead to a complaint of harassment.
“On June 24 he contacted her again by text requesting resuming their relationship and this was the final straw and caused her to support a prosecution and he was arrested.”
When Stokes was interviewed he admitted harassing his ex to try and win her back and accepted sending the letters and disclosing the photos on Facebook.
“This was a significant aggravating feature in this case and was intended to maximise the distress caused to the complainant and also involved one of her children,” added Mr Winzer.
Defending solicitor Ray Peters said that Stokes was his partner’s full time carer before the relationship ended and it came as a shock to him when it happened and he became extremely depressed as a result.
“He went to live in Pembrokeshire and when the police contacted him he admitted he had been attempting to reignite their relationship, although there was no suggestion of any threats,” he said.
“When he went to Wales he was diagnosed with depression by his GP and was having difficulties eating so was prescribed sleeping tablets and anti depressants.
“He says he is now moving on from the relationship break-up and has stayed on medication and has been able to find casual work at a pub.
“He accepts the relationship is now over and has no wish to contact the complainant.”
The magistrates sentenced Stokes to an 18 month community order with 200 hours unpaid work and a 25 day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement. Costs of £85 and an £85 surcharge were also imposed
The magistrates also imposed a 12 month restraining order on the defendant ordering that he must not contact the complainant or her children and must not go to her address in Yeovil.
Business
Natural Resources Wales approves Ireland-UK interconnector licence

GREENLINK INTERCONNECTOR LIMITED says it welcomes the decision by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to approve its application for a Marine Licence for the Greenlink electricity interconnector project, which will link the power markets of Great Britain and Ireland.
An important project for Pembrokeshire, and the UK as a whole, NRW’s go-ahead is one of several consents required for the construction of the project and covers installation of the marine cable in UK waters.
The approval is a major milestone for Greenlink and joins the onshore planning consents granted unanimously in July last year by Pembrokeshire County Council and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.
Greenlink’s proposed 190km subsea and underground electricity cable will run beneath the Irish Sea to connect National Grid’s Pembroke Power Station in Wales and EirGrid’s Great Island substation in County Wexford, Ireland. It will have a nominal capacity of 500 MW.

The Wales-Ireland link is just one of four interconnectors being installed
Nigel Beresford, CEO for Greenlink Interconnector Limited, said: “We are delighted by Natural Resources Wales’s decision to grant this licence. This marks a significant milestone for Greenlink and another important step towards project construction, which we expect to commence later this year.
“The Greenlink team has worked constructively with Natural Resources Wales and Welsh marine stakeholders to find workable solutions to the many technical and environmental challenges facing a large infrastructure project like this, and this has been reflected in the quality of the final proposal.
“The thorough environmental and technical assessments we have undertaken, supported by the practical and value-adding feedback we have received from key marine stakeholders, have ensured that we move forward confident that we are delivering a well-designed project with the interests of the Welsh marine habitat at its core.”
The subsea section of the cable will be approximately 160km in length and uses high voltage direct current (HVDC) technology. The preferred route and installation methods were chosen following the conclusion of subsea surveys and consultation with key stakeholders.
In Ireland, a Foreshore Licence application was submitted to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (Foreshore Unit) in 2019 and the onshore planning application was submitted to An Bord Pleanála in December 2020.
Greenlink is one of Europe’s most important energy infrastructure projects and brings benefits on both sides of the Irish Sea for energy security, regional investment, jobs and the cost-effective integration of low carbon energy. The project will offer important local supply chain opportunities and plans are being drawn up for ‘meet-the-buyer’ events in the local area prior to construction.
Once fully consented, Greenlink is expected to have a three-year construction programme, with commissioning planned by the end of 2023.
News
Appeal from Fire and Rescue Service to install working smoke alarms

AT 01:17am this morning, Tuesday, March 2, 2021, crews from Milford Haven were called to a property fire in the Hakin area of Milford Haven.
The fire was confined to a pan on a stove in the kitchen area and extinguished by firefighters using two breathing apparatus, a hose reel jet and a thermal imaging camera.
Crews also ventilated the property and fitted smoke alarms within the property.
The Fire Service left the incident at 02:00am.
Watch Manager Alun Griffiths, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said “This fire was the result of cooking left unattended. It is so important to remove all pots and pans from a heat source when you are called away from the cooker.
“Thankfully, the occupiers of the property managed to exit the property before our firefighters arrived, but it could have ended very differently as there were no smoke alarms fitted in the property.
“I cannot stress enough the importance of installing working smoke alarms in your homes and testing them regularly. In the dreadful event of a fire, they can alert you to the danger sooner and could mean the difference between life and death.
“As a Fire and Rescue Service, we provide Home Fire Safety advice which is free of charge. We also offer Safe and Well Visits which you can arrange by phoning us on 0800 169 1234 or by visiting the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service website.”
For further Home Fire Safety advice or to talk about the possibility of a Safe and Well Visit by Fire and Rescue Service personnel, please phone us on 0800 169 1234. Alternatively please complete an online Request a Safe and Well Visit form on the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service website: https://www.mawwfire.gov.uk/eng/your-safety/in-your-home/
News
Milford Haven: Apocalyptic scenes as work truck catches fire in Meyler Crescent

A MILFORD HAVEN businessman says that he is “absolutely gutted”, after he lost his tipper truck in a dramatic fire overnight.
Callum Hicks, of Meyler Crescent, was woken just after 1am on Monday morning (Mar 1) to see his vehicle in flames, with fuel running down the street on fire.
The apocalyptic scenes brought neighbours out of their homes and the fire brigade was quickly called and put out the blaze.
At this time the police and fire brigade are not suspecting foul play, but in a telephone call to a Herald reporter Callum Hicks said that he thought it was impossible that the vehicle would just spontaneously combust.

Work van: Callum Hicks with his truck, which he says was his “pride and joy”
Explaining that he thought his truck had been set on fire deliberately, he said: “There was CCTV of the fire, but its a football pitch length away, with a white van parked blocking the view of the camera. There was not a clear uninterrupted view.”
“I parked the truck at 2pm on Sunday afternoon so it was 11 hours before the fire started. The vehicle was therefore cold, and locked up.”

Firefighters at the scene
The Herald has asked two mechanics, one of whom has worked on Transit vans for decades. The first said: “It is very unlikely that a vehicle like this would catch fire on it’s own – its impossible – I am 99.9% sure that this was arson.”
The second, a specialist in vehicle electronics said: “There are so many fuses and fail safes its highly unlikely for diesel vans to burst into flames like this without some kind of catalyst.”

Burned out shell: The vehicle after the fire
“There have been issues regarding Transits in the past, even a product recall involving a fire risk from a towing module. But, the chances are a million to one of it catching fire after being parked up for almost twelve hours. It just doesn’t happen.”
The Herald asked Callum Hicks if he could think of anyone who may want to torch his truck. He said that he could not think of anyone who would do such a thing.
Commenting on the police handling of the matter, he said: “They told my missus, Rhianna Pearce, that they were not taking matters further because it was just an accident – its not!”
“I have been in trouble with the police before, and they know I am a bit of a boy, but I think this is the reason that the police are not looking into this properly.
“At the end of the day this was a large fire in a residential area, lives could have been in danger. I have lost thousands because I was insured third-party only and I do not have cover for fire.
Dyfed-Powys Police and Mid & West Wales Fire and Rescue Service have been asked for a comment.
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