Children as young as 11 have been seen kicking in doors and ‘egging’ them in the early hours of the morning in two Pembrokeshire towns.

Door cameras captured a group of youngsters walking through the streets of Pembroke Dock soon after 3am on Sunday morning,  They were seen kicking and banging on residential doors near to the train station.

The previous evening a gang of youths, again aged between 11 and 14, were seen kicking in residential front doors in Milford Haven town centre and throwing eggs at them.  The Milford incidents took place around 7pm in the Marble Hall area and Cromwell Road.

The youngsters have also been heard shouting abuse at pedestrians and dog walkers in the same areas.

Door camera footage of the criminal damage has now been forwarded to Dyfed-Powys Police for further investigation.

Meanwhile an appeal has been made to anyone who may have witnessed the incidents or who has door camera or dashcam footage to contact Dyfed-Powys Police.

“These incidents have been reported to the police and they are now being considered as criminal damage,” commented one of the concerned residents. 

“These teenagers are out early in the evening but also in the early hours of the morning, and doors are being kicked in by kids with hoodies on. They booted one door so hard it flew open.

“Surely it’s the parents’ responsibility to ensure their children are home and safe at night, and not out on our streets causing anti-social behaviour?”

JAMES O’NEILL, 53, from Merthyr Tydfil, was found guilty of wounding/inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (Dec 13). His co-defendants, Aron O’Neill, 25, and Shaun Nicholas, 24, were acquitted after the jury ruled that their actions were in self-defence.

The charges arose from a violent altercation at The Boat House pub in Saundersfoot on October 28, 2022. The complainant, Stephen Kanauros, had been celebrating his daughter’s birthday with his family when tensions escalated, leading to a brutal attack that left Mr. Kanauros with serious injuries.

During the trial, the jury was shown CCTV footage and graphic images of Mr. Kanauros’ injuries. Prosecutors revealed that James O’Neill bit off part of Mr. Kanauros’ lip during the altercation, with the severed section later found on the pub floor. O’Neill also bit the complainant’s finger, causing further significant injuries.

Prosecutor Dyfed Thomas KC argued that James O’Neill’s actions were deliberate and intended to cause serious harm. “He intended to cause harm—really serious harm—and he certainly achieved it,” Mr. Thomas said.

The violence reportedly stemmed from James O’Neill’s anger after bar staff questioned his daughter, Lowri O’Neill, about her ID. When staff asked the group to leave, James O’Neill responded aggressively, directing offensive language at the staff and blowing vape smoke at them.

Co-defendants cleared

While James O’Neill was found guilty, his co-defendants, Aron O’Neill and Shaun Nicholas, successfully argued they acted in self-defence during the altercation. Both men testified that their actions were defensive and aimed at protecting James O’Neill.

Aron admitted throwing punches but maintained they did not connect as alleged. Shaun acknowledged striking Mr. Kanauros once but described his action as a panicked response to protect his uncle.

Their legal teams emphasized that the men’s actions were reasonable given the perceived threat to James O’Neill.

Courtroom testimony

During closing arguments, Mr. Singh, representing Shaun Nicholas, drew comparisons to Mr. Kanauros’ defence of his wife earlier in the altercation. “Shaun Nicholas acted out of a desire to protect his uncle. How is this any different from when Mr. Kanauros defended his wife?”

The jury ultimately found the two men not guilty, while James O’Neill was held solely responsible for the grievous injuries inflicted on Mr. Kanauros.

James O’Neill is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday (Jan 17) 2025.

The case has drawn significant attention due to the severity of the injuries and the dramatic CCTV evidence presented in court.

Caws Cenarth Cheese founder Thelma Adams – described this week as a committed matriarch of her family-led company – has died at the age of 86.

Announcing her death on Sunday, Caws Cenarth said they had lost ‘a great matriarch’.

“We, as a family, are devastated to announce the recent death of Thelma Adams,” the family announced on the Caws Cenarth Facebook page.

“She was the great Caws Cenarth matriarch who, with vision and passion, created the business out of sheer necessity in the face of the existential threat to the family farm posed by the imposition of the crippling milk quotas.

“She was a woman who thought outside the box every time, and we will miss her feistiness, her drive, generosity and kindness.

“She has left a very large hole in our lives.”

Thelma Adams rose to fame in 1984 after bringing the town of Carmarthen to a virtual standstill when she dressed up as Cleopatra and sat in a full bath of cold milk to protest against the milk quota.

“I was 46 at the time and was gobsmacked when I heard about the introduction of Milk Quotas,” she said in a news report.

“As a result, several farmers went out of business and many committed suicide. The slogan I dreamt up at the time to highlight this was that it was cheaper to bathe in milk than water.”

Cheese making began on the family farm at Glyneithinog, near Newcastle Emlyn back as 1903 with Thelma Adam’s great grandmothers, Lizzie Wyn and Leisa Jones making cheese for the family and to sell at the local market. The tradition was rekindled in 1987 by Thelma and her husband, Gwynfor, and Caws Cenarth quickly established a reputation for its creamy, fresh-flavoured Caerffili.

The Adams family soon found themselves leading a renaissance in Welsh cheesemaking and today Caws Cenarth is the longest established producer of Welsh Farmhouse Caerffili (also known as Caerphilly), and is probably Wales’ best known cheese. 

Today the business is run by their son, Carwyn.

Earlier this year Caws Cenarth Cheese was given a Royal Warrant by HM King Charles III. This achievement meant that Caws Cenarth would be supplying their range of organic cheese to the Royal Household.  To acquire this royal approval, a brand must have provided their goods or services to the Royal Household for at least five consecutive years.