News
Hostile exchanges at Audit Committee

Council’s Director of Development’s, presentation to Monday’s (Sept 22) Extraordinary Audit Committee has raised considerably more questions about grants scandal in Pembroke Dock than it answered. The thrust of Dr Jones’ lengthy address to the committee was, essentially, that where – in his words – “the irregularity” had occurred it was the fault of everyone but him or his department. Doctor Jones began by blaming the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) for approving a manual for the Commercial Property Grants Scheme that had “weaknesses”. His European Manager, Gwyn Evans, had written the manual, but any problems with it were clearly WEFO’s fault. And if WEFO weren’t at fault then there were all sorts of other compelling reasons (or possibly excuses) that Dr Jones could offer up. In public session, Dr Jones alleged that issues that had arisen with the Pembroke and Pembroke Dock grants schemes were all to do with the activities of one developer exploiting “loopholes” in the system. Further and in addition, Dr Jones averred that some problems had arisen because of increased workload and staffing shortages. On the one hand Dr Jones pointed out that the number of staff and projects for which he and his department had risen and on the other he pointed out that staff shortages had caused problems to arise. The failure, to replace a key manager and plan adequately for one member of staff’s maternity leave, were offered up as reasons why problems had arisen in project management.
DEPARTMENT ‘UNDERSTAFFED’ At one point, Dr Jones sought to demonstrate that whereas there were once 18 members of staff under the Head of Regeneration (a manager’s post), he now had 94 members of staff as Director of Development (a director’s post). Any sympathy most members of the Committee might have felt for the £130k+ a year Dr Jones was somewhat moderated by the fact that the overwhelming majority of those “new” posts are actually contractors engaged with the Council’s partners – such as the Futureworks initiative organised in concert with the DWP. In a thinly veiled attempt to put pressure on councillors, he three times said that it was up to councillors to decide whether they wanted the benefit of grant-aided investment in Pembrokeshire and were willing to make funds available to ensure that grants could be administered properly. Of course, Dr Jones never admitted any problems existed before – whether in staffing levels, workload or administrative burden. On the contrary, before the same Committee in January Dr Jones asserted confidently that any issues uncovered would be trivial in nature. Back in January, Dr Jones had claimed that any problems with the grants would amount to the equivalent of a few bread rolls a day lost from the canteen. As it happens, using only the figures before the Audit Committee that would mean that – at 15p per bread roll – something like 900,000 bread rolls over a calendar year, or nearly 2,500 a day h a d gone walk about on Dr Jones’ watch. But he did not apologise. He expressed “disappointment”. As a display of patronising chutzpah before the Audit Committee, it was only equalled by the continued protestations of European Manager Gwyn Evans that whatever had gone wrong it was nothing to do with him. In all of these protestations, Dr Jones and Mr Evans were dealt with in soothing and understanding tones by the newly-elected Chair of the Audit Committee, Peter Jones. Formerly of Morgan Cole Solicitors and presently legal counsel to Swansea University and Chair of Swansea Bay Futures, Mr Jones’ role appeared to be less to encourage rigorous scrutiny and investigation than to accept everything the Committee were told by officers at face value. In the absence of the Head of Legal Services, Huw Miller, and the Council’s own Monitoring Officer, Laurence Harding – it appeared that Mr Jones’ appointment was – at times – particularly fortuitous, due to his extensive legal experience heading a major law firm.
JONES THE LEGAL EAGLE Prepared to deploy his undoubtedly deep legal knowledge when it was most advantageous to the culture which allows £125,000 to be treated like loose change lost behind a sofa cushion, Mr Jones managed to appear to contradict two senior officers (Kerry MacDermott and Jon Haswell). Both of whom agreed with Cllr Jacob Williams that key documents and correspondence relating to negotiations between the Council and Mr Cathal McCosker (Dr Steven Jones’ ‘lone gunman’) could be examined by councillors on the Audit Committee as of right. That is not to say that everything was plain sailing. The Chair was visibly narked and exasperated by the efforts of Cllr Jacob Williams to extract even the merest scintilla of an apology from Dr Jones or Mr Evans. On the basis that evidence is literally ‘that which can be seen’, Mr Jones appeared impatient when Cllr Williams continued to point out that the problem was not necessarily the old procedural manual but the failure to adhere to it. Cllr Williams continued to press on in the teeth of the Chair’s rising impatience with his wish to actually hold someone to account for the repeated and manifest failings of the Council’s Development Directorate and Regeneration Unit. Cllr Williams pointed out that the Council’s own manual provided that bank statements should have been produced to show expenditure had been incurred. Offering a legal opinion based on his professional practice, Mr Jones disagreed. What Mr Jones’ keen legal mind did not pick up on, however, was that the procedural manual was a document produced by Pembrokeshire County Council for its own use. It was only approved by WEFO. The manual’s author was before the committee. Going increasing red at the back of his neck, Gwyn Evans failed to explain why he had included something in the original manual that he and his department had no intention of enforcing. He ventured to say that it would not be practical. And the Chair nodded sagely; but Mr Evans could not or did not explain that if his own procedural manual was impractical why he did not realise that and change it to reflect practicalities before any issues arose.
SAY SORRY TO STODDART Cllr Jacob Williams landed a telling blow by following up a point made earlier by Cllr Guy Woodham. Cllr Williams asked why all of the issues that Dr Jones now prayed in aid of his department had not been acknowledged before. Why, in particular, did Dr Jones persist in saying that nobody could have known what was wrong when clear evidence had been presented by Cllr Mike Stoddart at the time that something was amiss? Cllrs Woodham and Williams suggested that officers should apologise to Cllr Stoddart for the way they had previously dealt with his concerns. Councillor Williams went so far as to say that a systematic attempt had been made “to rubbish” the Hakin representative. Dr Jones pointedly declined to apologise and the Council’s European Manager, Gwyn Evans, remarkably said he stood by the content of a public FAQ document which had been shown to be factually incorrect. It was hard to determine whether either officer was intentionally or unintentionally patronising. If the word ‘sorry’ was in their minds, it was rapidly strangled before it could be uttered. Peter Jones, of course, would have been a stranger to the intricacies of the discussion before him. It did not matter how well briefed and prepared he was, the ins and outs of the grants scandal and the efforts of the Council to cover it up were not on his radar.
STODDART GETS A SAY In the teeth of Chair’s bemusement, Cllrs Woodham and Williams proposed that Cllr Stoddart address the meeting. Cllr John Allen Mirehouse gracelessly consented. Two officers, Kerry MacDermott and Jon Haswell, pointed out that as Cllr Stoddart had been invited to address the panel previously on this matter he should be asked to share his thoughts. Cllr Stoddart offered some constructive views on the way forward and agreed that the proposals in the new procedural manual and checklist proposed went some way to tackling concerns. Indeed, Cllr Stoddart seemed to have gained an ally in Jon Haswell, who agreed with him that a very basic amendment could resolve an issue which had plagued the whole grants scheme. Gwyn Evans disagreed. Peter Jones leapt in to Mr Evans’ defence. Mr Haswell was not deflected and persisted with his view. With the Chairman looking at his watch, the meeting ended shambolically and unsatisfactorily with a spat between Cllrs Mirehouse and Stoddart. Peter Jones, seemingly taking the position that the Audit Committee had no choice but to approve the documents before them, drew the meeting to a quick close at the behest of Cllrs Mirehouse and Tom Richards.
Crime
Case reopened after emergency worker assaults in town centre incident

A MAN convicted of assaulting two police officers and verbally abusing two women in Haverfordwest has had his case reopened—but his convictions and sentence remain in place.
DANIEL WATSON, aged 36, of Rowan Drive, Heybridge, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday afternoon (July 14) for a legal application under Section 142 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 to reopen his case.
The original conviction, imposed on May 13, 2025, was set aside and reheard in full. Following review, magistrates reimposed a community order with an increased duration.
The court heard that on April 24, 2025, Watson launched a series of abusive and violent acts in Haverfordwest, including:
- Using threatening and abusive behaviour towards Tanya Sargeant and Beth Davies, causing them harassment, alarm or distress.
- Assaulting PC 1162 James, a female police officer, and PC 1390 Rees, a male officer, during the incident.
- Resisting PC James while she was carrying out her lawful duties.
All offences took place on the same day in the town.
Magistrates imposed a revised 18-month community order requiring Watson to complete up to 10 days of rehabilitation activity, extended from the original 12 months due to the serious nature of the offences.
Watson was also fined £480, ordered to pay £50 in compensation to each officer, a victim services surcharge of £114, and £85 in court costs, bringing his total financial penalty to £779. He must pay in instalments of £50 per month starting from September 8, 2025.
The offences were officially recognised as aggravated due to being committed against emergency workers acting in the course of their duties.
Crime
Stalking offender’s alcohol tag removed after court agrees it is ‘inappropriate’

A MAN who stalked a woman and caused damage to her property has had his alcohol abstinence requirement revoked by the court on medical grounds.
THOMAS JONES, aged 35, of Croft Road, Broad Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (July 14) for an application to amend his existing community order.
The application, brought by the National Probation Service, sought to remove the Alcohol Abstinence and Monitoring Requirement (AAMR) from a sentence imposed in May this year. The court was told the requirement was inappropriate as Jones is alcohol dependent.
Magistrates granted the request, revoking the original order made on May 6 and replacing it with a revised community order.
Jones was originally sentenced for two offences committed in Milford Haven.
The first involved criminal damage on July 21, 2024, when he damaged a door, radiator, cat litter tray and scratch pole belonging to a woman.
The second offence was stalking the same woman, between December 5, 2024, and January 22, 2025. The court previously heard that Jones attended her address on multiple occasions, made over 100 phone calls in a four-day period over Christmas, sent direct and indirect messages including Facebook posts, and left unsolicited gifts including a parcel and an envelope containing a spa voucher.
For the stalking offence, Jones was fined £80 and handed a community order requiring him to complete up to 20 days of rehabilitation activity by July 13, 2027.
A new collection order has been made for the unpaid fine, which must be paid by August 11.
Crime
Man arrested after stabbing in Tenby housing estate

A MAN was taken to hospital with stab wounds following a serious incident in a quiet residential estate in Tenby on Monday (July 14).
Emergency services were called to Hafalnod, a cul-de-sac near the edge of town, shortly before 2:00pm. A heavy police presence, including firearms officers, remained at the scene for several hours.
Police cordoned off a section of the estate, sealing off footpaths and green areas with tape, while officers carried out house-to-house enquiries. Images taken by The Pembrokeshire Herald at around 5:30pm show at least three marked vehicles, officers at the scene, and what appears to be blood on the pavement.
A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police told The Herald: “Dyfed-Powys Police received a report of an assault in the Hafalnod estate, Tenby, at about 1:40pm on Monday, July 14.
One man was taken to hospital after being stabbed with a knife. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
Officers, including firearms officers, remained at the scene throughout the day whilst they carried out their enquiries.
A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent and remains in police custody.
We are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident.
There continues to be an increased police presence within the area, and if anyone has any concerns please speak to those officers.”
The Herald understands from the victim’s family that he is recovering in hospital.
Anyone with further information is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police quoting the incident in Hafalnod on July 14.
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tomos
November 14, 2014 at 4:15 pm
Why do these guys keep digging when they’re in a hole?
BPJ is no longer there to protect them If they are imbeciles or incompetent, these cocky public servants should realise they now have to report correctly and properly TO US, perhaps they should apologise and hope the police aren’t investigating – are they still ?