News

Western Telegraph’s complaint against The Herald dismissed

Published

11 years ago

October 14, 2014

Pleased with result: Herald editor, Thomas Sinclair

A COMPLAINT made to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) about The Pembrokeshire Herald’s media pack and marketing by the Western Telegraph’s publisher, Dean Merrick, has been rejected.

In his complaint, Mr Merrick alleged that information provided to customers regarding the number of copies being printed per week were ‘untrue’. Mr Merrick also challenged the Herald’s weekly readership figures.

An investigation by the ASA confirmed that the Pembrokeshire Herald correctly advertised that the publication prints 10,000 copies per week.

The regulatory body is also allowing The Herald to advertise a readership figure of 17,000, on the basis that it is made clear to readers that this is an estimated figure.

Herald publisher Thomas Sinclair said: “At the time of the complaint I said that it was a pretty desperate act. Now, the Advertising Standards Authority reviewed both our print run and circulation figures and they were satisfied that we were able to substantiate both. So my view remains the same about Dean Merrick’s actions.”

Mr Sinclair added: “The number of readers a paper has every week is calculated by the average number of people a newspaper is seen by; that is called the “pass on rate”. We checked our position against the accepted industry benchmark and erred on the side of caution when calculating our total readership. If anything, we underestimate our readership and did this knowing that our figures would be eventually audited.

“Other papers claim a higher pass on rate than we do. If you read some advertising features in some other papers, they bear no relation to the pass on rate. One feature in a rival claimed something like 50,000 plus readers. That would mean a pass on rate far in excess of what can be justified by reference to industry standard practice and would mean they were selling almost twice as many papers as they actually do.

Clear message: 17000 readers on banners at Milford Carnival this year.

“I am pleased that, subject to a very minor change that we have agreed pending the end of year audit, the ASA have determined the complaint to be groundless and will take no further action.

“It makes you wonder just how desperate multinational newspaper groups are if, rather than give their advertising customers a positive message about themselves, they allow the outsiders they parachute in to run their supposedly “local” brands to attack competitors.

Mr Sinclair concluded: “I think what has happened shows the difference between something produced by a soulless corporation without roots in the community and a real local newspaper concentrating on real local issues.”

Sales Director Tim Evans added: “We sell our product positively. It’s a pity that some others lack the confidence and ability to do the same with their own.”

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

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

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

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

Published

4 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

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.