News

Bryn investigation committee member told: ‘Keep your mouth shut’

Published

12 years ago

September 28, 2014

EXCLUSIVE

THE HERALD can reveal that on September 18, Cllr Rob Lewis told former Cabinet Education spokesperson Cllr Ken Rowlands, who was removed from the Cabinet earlier this year, that he had been appointed to sit on the committee investigating council chief Bryn Parry-Jones, and that he should “keep his mouth shut”.

County Hall: News of Simpson's departure from cabinet a shock to many

County Hall: News of Simpson’s departure from cabinet on Friday (Sept 26) a was a shock to many

The Herald understands that a member of the Council’s staff was present in Cllr Lewis’ office when he gave Cllr Ken Rowlands both the news of his appointment to the vital committee and instructions as to his conduct during the investigation

It is not clear on whose authority Cllr Rob Lewis decided he was in a position to appoint a member of the investigatory committee or to give instructions to them, but Mr Lewis has form in acting as the CEO’s emissary in his dealing with Councillors. Our exclusive interview with Cllr Simpson following his resignation also revealed that Jamie Adams and his Deputies, Huw George and Rob Lewis, effectively ran the Council’s political executive without reference to Cabinet.

We revealed that on Thursday evening (Sept 25), Cllrs Mark Edwards and Peter Morgan met with Cllr David Simpson at his home.

Allegations made at that meeting, about Cllr Rob Lewis’s activities in connection with evidence to be heard by the Investigatory Committee from Cllr Morgan, led Mr Simpson to resign from the Cabinet on Friday morning.

The Herald was aware of County Hall gossip concerning this fresh allegation, but Cllr David Simpson contacted The Herald this morning and reported that the Johnston councillor had visited him on Saturday (Sept 27) and confirmed to him that the rumours were true.

Cllr Rowlands and current Cabinet member Sue Perkins were parachuted on to the Investigatory Committee by IPPG Leader Jamie Adams to replace Daphne Bush and Lyndon Frayling, who were originally appointed to it.

When we spoke to Cllr Morgan on Friday evening, he told us: “Rob Lewis has spoken to me about appearing before the investigatory committee. My position is that pressure won’t work on me. I will do what is right. When I spoke to Jamie Adams last night (Thursday, Sep 25), I told him the same thing.”

Cllr Morgan added: “Laurence Harding met with me to discuss my attendance at the investigatory committee on Monday (Sep 29). He told me that if I didn’t want to attend, if I just left him a signed note it would all be okay and I wouldn’t have to go.”

Cllr Lewis lost his Deputy Leader’s post on Friday, but remains in Cabinet.

News

Hakin motorist banned after driving 14 times over drug limit

Published

15 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A HAKIN motorist has been banned from driving for three years after being caught behind the wheel with cocaine and benzoylecgonine in his system.

Mark Briskham, 53, of Waterloo Square, Wellington Road, Hakin, was stopped by police on January 5 as he drove a Ford Kuga along Steynton Road, near Milford Haven.

Blood tests carried out at the police station showed he had 800mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

He also had 64mcg of cocaine in his system. The legal limit is 10mcg.

Briskham pleaded guilty to two drug-driving charges when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for three years, taking into account a previous drug-drive conviction from 2020.

He was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.cr

Crime

Begelly man remanded over alleged May Day assault

Published

15 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been remanded in custody following an alleged May Day assault against a woman in Begelly.

Tomas Baker, 34, of Ty Dee, New Road, Begelly, is accused of assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, at an undisclosed location in Begelly on May 1.

Baker appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week by video link from Swansea Prison.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His trial will take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on June 22.

Crime

Waterston man denies child rape and sexual assault charges

Published

15 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A WATERSTON man has appeared before magistrates charged with 13 sexual offences against children, including three allegations of raping a girl under the age of 13.

Chaisee Price, 25, of Biggins Hill, Waterston, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

He faces three charges of raping a girl under 13, eight charges of sexually assaulting girls aged between five and eight, and two charges of intentionally inciting girls under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2014 and 2019.

Price denied all charges.

Because of the seriousness of the allegations, magistrates declined jurisdiction and the case will now proceed to Swansea Crown Court on July 10.

Price was released on conditional bail.

The conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 6:00pm and 6:00am, no contact with the prosecution witness, no unsupervised contact with children under 18, and a requirement to surrender his passport to police.