News

Editor serves £50,000 defamation claim on Neyland Town Council

Published

3 months ago

December 7, 2025

THE PEMBROKESHIRE HERALD has today confirmed that its Editor, Tom Sinclair, has served a £50,000 defamation claim on Neyland Town Council following a series of false and damaging statements issued by the Council and its Clerk.

The legal action centres on an official post published by Neyland Town Council on its Facebook page in October, in which the Herald’s reporting was described as “targeted”, “bullying”, and “relentless”. These accusations were presented as fact, published without evidence, and issued without giving the newspaper any right of reply.

In the weeks that followed, serious defamatory abuse was allowed to remain visible beneath the Council’s post, including a comment labelling the editor a “nonce”. That comment remained public for around eight weeks before being removed. The Town Clerk later escalated matters further by posting an abusive public message directed at Mr Sinclair personally, using obscene language.

Mr Sinclair said: “Our reporting has been fair, accurate and entirely justified. When a public authority uses its official platform to publish untrue personal attacks about a journalist, it crosses a line. This is not about disagreement with a story – it is about a council making baseless allegations that undermine press freedom and damage trust in local democracy.”

He added: “No journalist should be publicly slurred by a public body for doing their job. Allowing defamatory abuse to remain online for weeks, and then adding further hostile comments, has caused serious harm to my reputation and encouraged harassment.”

The claim seeks damages, the removal of the offending material, a public apology, and written undertakings to prevent a repeat of the allegations.

Mr Sinclair said the purpose of the action is to “draw a clear line under this behaviour” and ensure that no other journalist is subjected to similar treatment by those in public office.

“The Herald will always hold public bodies to account,” he said. “But accountability runs both ways.”

Crime

Man sentenced for stalking Milford Haven woman

Published

3 hours ago

March 15, 2026

Court Reporter

Restraining order imposed by Haverfordwest magistrates

A MAN has been sentenced after admitting stalking a woman in Milford Haven.

Andrew Richards, 39, of High Street, Neyland, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court for sentence on Monday (Mar 9).

Richards had previously pleaded guilty to stalking without fear, alarm or distress, contrary to section 2A(1) and (4) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

The court heard that between December 2, 2025 and February 15, 2026, he pursued a course of conduct which amounted to the stalking of Tamsin Matthias and which he knew, or ought to have known, amounted to harassment.

Magistrates imposed a community order running until September 8, 2027.

As part of the order, Richards must undertake alcohol treatment for nine months under the direction of the probation service.

He must also complete up to twenty days of rehabilitation activity as directed by probation.

Richards was ordered to pay a £120 fine, £500 compensation to the victim, £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge.

The court made a restraining order lasting until September 8, 2027.

Under the order, Richards must not contact the victim directly or indirectly and must not post, or cause to be posted, any material on social media or the internet referring to her directly or indirectly.

The court heard a victim personal statement from the complainant, which was read to the court by the prosecutor.

The case was prosecuted by Dennis Davies, with Richards represented by Mike Kelleher.

The hearing was before magistrates Mrs J Morris, Mr C Pattison and Mr J Steadman.

Crime

Man, 80, sentenced for stalking after campaign of unwanted emails and posters

Published

3 hours ago

March 15, 2026

Court Reporter

Restraining order imposed after Haverfordwest case

A MAN has been sentenced for stalking after admitting a campaign of unwanted contact and harassment in Haverfordwest.

Michael Lockheart, 80, of Daisy Lane, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court for sentence on Monday (Mar 9).

The court had previously heard that between July 27 and September 10, 2025, Lockheart pursued a course of conduct which amounted to stalking.

The offence involved sending numerous unwanted emails after being told to stop making contact, putting up defamatory posters in public places, and sending malicious correspondence to the complainant’s GP and local authority.

Lockheart had entered a guilty plea to stalking without fear, alarm or distress, contrary to section 2A(1) and (4) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, on January 27, 2026.

Magistrates imposed a community order running until March 8, 2028.

As part of that order, Lockheart must undergo non-residential mental health treatment for 12 months under Dr Cormac Duffy, as directed by probation.

He must also complete up to 25 days of rehabilitation activity.

Lockheart was ordered to pay £1,000 compensation, a £600 fine, £85 costs and a £114 surcharge.

The court also made a restraining order lasting until March 8, 2028.

Under that order, he must not seek, approach or communicate with the complainant by any means, directly or indirectly. He must not knowingly enter any address where she is living, and must not post, or cause to be posted, any material online or on social media referring to her directly or by implication.

A victim personal statement was read to the court by the prosecutor.