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Pembrokeshire man jailed after repeatedly punching pregnant wife

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A Neyland man has been jailed after punching his pregnant wife repeatedly with a clenched fist.

As Declan Watt carried out the attack on his wife in the early hours of June 17, he was heard screaming at her, “I want the baby dead.  I’ll kick it out of your c***.”

After listening to the facts at Swansea Crown Court this morning (Monday), Judge Catherine Richards described the offence as ‘at the very top end of the bracket’.

Caitlin Brazel, KC for the Crown, said that on the evening of June 17, Declan Watt and his wife visited friends in the Llanelli area.

“They turned up at a friend’s address and the defendant had been drinking alcohol and using cocaine,” she said.

“Spirits were high, but the defendant then received a text message and his mood changed.  He became angry.”

At approximately 3am, Watt dealt his first punch on his wife.

“This was with a clenched fist, and it occurred on more than one occasion,” she said.

“He belted her, causing blood to splatter everywhere, and was screaming at her ‘I want the baby dead…I’ll kick it out of your c***’, believing that it wasn’t his child.”

Ms Brazel said the assault was observed by the female occupier of the property who attempted to clean the blood from Mrs. Watt’s face.  While she was doing this, the defendant went into the kitchen where he proceeded to bleach the blood from his hand.

As a result of the assault, the complainant was admitted to the minor injuries unit at Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli, where she was treated for nose injuries.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Ms Watt said the incident has affected both her physical and psychological health.

“It’s caused complete disruption to my life, as I now live in fear of contacting him,” she said.

The Crown went on to say that Watt and another male person left the property just before 6am in a black 4×4.  The vehicle was later apprehended by police officers and Watt was subsequently arrested.

After pleading guilty to assaulting Ms Watt by battery Watt, of Springfield Close, Neyland, was sentenced to 20 weeks in custody. Following his release, he will be the subject of a post sentence supervision for up to 12 months.

Judge Richards also imposed a restraining order which will prevent Watt from having any direct or indirect contact with his wife, and from entering any premises where she has occupancy.  The order also prevents him from entering any data on the internet or social media which makes reference to her.  The order will remain in place for three years.

 

News

Plaid tells Carmarthenshire voters: ‘Only we can stop Reform’

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PLAID CYMRU has urged voters in Sir Gaerfyrddin to back the party on Thursday, claiming it is the only party able to beat Reform UK in the new constituency.

The appeal comes after the latest ITV Cymru Wales, YouGov and Wales Governance Centre MRP poll suggested Plaid Cymru is on course to become the largest party in the Senedd, with Reform close behind. The poll put Plaid on 33% across Wales and Reform on 29%. (YouGov)

Sir Gaerfyrddin is one of the new Senedd constituencies being used for the first time in this election. It has been created from the Carmarthen and Llanelli Westminster seats and will elect six Members of the Senedd under the new closed-list system.

Plaid Cymru’s list in Sir Gaerfyrddin is led by Cefin Campbell, followed by Nerys Evans, Adam Price and Mari Arthur. (Who Can I Vote For?)

The party says the contest locally is now between Plaid Cymru and Reform UK, and has called on voters who want to stop Nigel Farage’s party from gaining ground in Carmarthenshire to “lend” Plaid their vote.

Nerys Evans said Plaid was offering “new leadership” and a “positive vision” for Wales, including childcare support, a National Development Agency to grow the economy, and a new numeracy and literacy scheme for children.

She said: “As the voters of Sir Gaerfyrddin head to the polls on Thursday, the choice could not be more stark.

“Only two parties can win here: Plaid Cymru, who offer new leadership, a positive vision, and which will be accountable only to the people of Wales; or Reform, which would divide our communities, threaten the future of our NHS, cut support for our culture and language and is controlled by Nigel Farage, billionaires, and ex-Tories in London.

“Support for Labour has disappeared in Carmarthenshire, with people unwilling to vote for a party that has let Wales down for over 27 years and in Westminster since Keir Starmer became Prime Minister.

“There is no evidence that the Greens or the Liberal Democrats will secure enough votes to come close to winning a seat.

“We ask anyone who wants to prevent a victory for Reform in Carmarthenshire to lend their vote to Plaid Cymru on Thursday.”

The Senedd election takes place on Thursday (May 7).

 

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Charity

Paul Sartori receives generous support from the James Tudor Foundation

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Paul Sartori Hospice at Home is celebrating a major support package from The James Tudor Foundation thanks to an unrestricted grant to help fund the charity’s vital end-of-life care services throughout the county. 

The £46,364 grant award ill be paid over three years.

Commenting on the windfall, the new Chief Executive Officer, Laura Hugman, said, “At a time where funding and funding partnerships are challenging, we’re very grateful to The James Tudor Foundation in helping us achieve our aims and passion for supporting and bringing reassurance to the local families who need us.” 

Paul Sartori Hospice at Home provides an holistic approach to end-of-life care, which encompasses home nursing, equipment loan, complementary therapies, bereavement and counselling support, physiotherapy, future care planning, and training. The team provides thousands of hours of day and night respite care each year, ensuring that patients can receive the support they need, complementing the statutory provision within the comfort of their own homes.

Judith Williams, Grant Development Officer at Paul Sartori Hospice at Home, expressed the charity’s gratitude: “We’re incredibly thankful to The James Tudor Foundation for their continued generosity. Their support helps us maintain our nursing service, which is a lifeline for many families facing end-of-life care challenges.”

Paul Sartori Hospice at Home offers a comprehensive range of services to individuals with life-limiting illnesses, ensuring they can be cared for at home with dignity, independence, and comfort.

 

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Climate

Chris Packham backs Carmarthen ‘nature crisis’ climate screening

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BROADCASTER and environmental campaigner Chris Packham has backed a free public screening in Carmarthen aimed at encouraging local discussion about the climate and nature crisis.

The People’s Emergency Briefing will be shown at St Peters Civic Hall, Carmarthen, on Friday, May 22, at 7:00pm.

The screening will be followed by a facilitated community discussion involving residents, local leaders and invited decision-makers.

The event forms part of a UK-wide programme intended to help the public and policymakers better understand the risks posed by climate change and biodiversity loss.

The film follows the National Emergency Briefing held at Westminster Central Hall in November 2025, where more than 1,200 MPs, peers and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport and the media gathered to hear evidence from leading experts.

The briefing, introduced by Chris Packham CBE, examined the impact of climate and nature breakdown on food security, public health, infrastructure, the economy and national security.

It has since been adapted into a 50-minute public film, which launched nationally in April and is now being screened in communities across the UK.

Chris Packham said: “I’d encourage people everywhere to attend a screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing.

“It creates exactly the kind of honest local conversation we now urgently need, both about what these changes mean where we live, and about what we can do together to address them.”

Organisers say the Carmarthen event comes at a time of growing local concern over flooding on the rivers Towy and Gwili, as well as biodiversity loss linked to pollution incidents.

After the film, those attending will be invited to take part in a structured discussion about the issues raised and what they may mean locally.

Local MPs, councillors and other influential figures have also been invited.

Philip Hughes, one of the organisers, said: “This is about creating space for people to come together, look at the evidence, and begin a more open and informed conversation about what it means for our community.

“It is also about how we can support the bolder action now called for by the science, which will also do so much to improve lives, as the film explains.”

Tickets for the Carmarthen screening are free, but advance registration is encouraged.

 

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