News

Eleven donkeys and pony found suffering in North Pembrokeshire

Published

1 year ago

December 17, 2024

AN ELDERLY woman has been given a suspended sentence after eleven donkeys and one pony were found to be in a suffering state at a small holding in Mynachlogddu, Crymych.
The equines were found in a poor environment and were not having their needs met. Many of them had overgrown hooves and there were concerns for their body conditions. Following an examination by an equine vet they were all found to be in a suffering state and the vet said they needed to be removed from the location.

Elizabeth Palmer, 80, of Llethyr-Uchaf, Crymych attended Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on 27 November and pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act.

These offences were that she caused unnecessary suffering to 11 donkeys and a pony by failing to provide adequate and appropriate farrier care and she failed to take such steps that were reasonable in all the circumstances to ensure their needs were met.

On Wednesday 11 December she was sentenced to 16 weeks custody (reduced from 26 weeks) suspended for 12 months and was handed a 10 year ban on all animals – with the exception of cats and dogs.

She was ordered to pay £400 costs and a £154 victim surcharge and there was a court order made for the RSPCA to return in 21 days to remove any other animals that remain on site other than cats and dogs.

In a witness statement, provided to the court from the investigating RSPCA Inspector, he said it was on 20 March he was requested by a Donkey Welfare Adviser from The Donkey Sanctuary to attend the small holding in the Crymych area.

The Inspector attended along with an equine vet and two welfare officers from The Donkey Sanctuary. He said: “I was shown two donkeys in a field and it was obvious that both donkeys’ hooves were very overgrown and one of the donkeys had hair loss on its right hand side.”

He said their owner arrived who said she had been waiting for a farrier to attend but they kept letting her down.

Following an examination by the equine vet, the Inspector was informed that these two donkeys had overgrown hooves, were of poor body condition, were invested with lice and that in the vets opinion had been caused unnecessary suffering by a failure to address these issues. He added that there was a shelter in the field with water present in buckets and some grazing.

They were also shown to an open fronted barn that contained nine donkeys and a pony.

The Inspector said: “Conditions in the barn were very poor with no clean dry laying area, no mental stimulation, very deep soiled bedding which was wet and the equines were struggling to walk through it.

“Many of the donkeys and the pony had overgrown hooves and several seemed to be in a poor body condition.”

He noted that the pony was partially in a poor condition and the Inspector was informed that the pony had been dumped on the owners land before Christmas 2023. He was also told that none of the equines had seen a vet recently.

The equine vet said that all of the donkeys needed to be removed as all had caused unnecessary suffering due to overgrown hooves, lice, dermatitis, poor body condition.

She also said that the pony (pictured) was in such a suffering state that she needed to be put to sleep on welfare grounds.

A consent form for this was signed by the owner who also signed the animals across to the RSPCA.

Eight of the rescued donkeys – Angel, Coco, Jack, Jane, Jenny, Toffee, Rosie and Paris – are living in a group at The Donkey Sanctuary in Devon where they have settled in very well. They go to the gate when they hear staff passing and if anyone enters their yard they approach to enjoy a fuss. Even the more nervous Toffee has started to greet people

Sadly, two of the donkeys had to be euthanised due to ill health and another was not fit to travel so is living in a group with similar needs at another of the charity’s facilities.

Kia Thomas, Donkey Welfare Adviser at The Donkey Sanctuary, who was present at the original visit in March, said: “When I saw the donkeys recently, I was absolutely delighted to see how different they looked from when we picked them up. I had not seen the group since March – and it was wonderful to see them in much better health after receiving the medical care they needed and deserved.”

Following sentencing an RSPCA spokesperson said: “We would very much like to thank The Donkey Sanctuary along with the equine vet and local horse expert who attended for their expertise and assistance.

“This was a very sad case where if veterinary care and the appropriate farrier care had been given these equines would not have suffered.”

Health

Wales facing worsening mental health crisis as financial hardship bites

Published

13 minutes ago

June 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MORE than 720,000 adults in Wales are now living with poor mental health, according to a major new report which warns the nation continues to record the highest levels of psychological distress in the UK.

New analysis released by the Mental Health Foundation on Wednesday (June 10) found that an additional 278,000 adults in Wales are experiencing poor mental health compared to 2009.

The findings show that by 2024, more than one in four adults in Wales (27.3%) were affected – around 720,000 people – placing Wales 2.7 percentage points above the UK average of 24.6%.

The charity said worsening financial insecurity, poverty, austerity measures and the long-term effects of the Covid pandemic are continuing to hit Welsh communities hard.

A report based on 15 years of data from 40,000 people across the UK found Wales has reported higher levels of poor mental health than the UK average in 13 of the last 15 years.

Researchers said the situation worsened significantly after the pandemic, with Wales reaching a peak of 28% in 2022/23 – 5.2 percentage points above the UK average at the time.

Although figures have fallen slightly since then, Wales continues to record the highest levels of poor mental health in Britain.

The Mental Health Foundation said poverty remains a major factor, with around one in five people in Wales living in poverty over the last two decades.

It warned that more than half of those affected are now living in “very deep poverty”, leading to chronic stress, financial hardship and greater mental health difficulties.

Catherine Razzell, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at the Mental Health Foundation, said the findings reveal a “worrying and consistent pattern” in Wales.

“Whilst figures show the levels of poor mental health in other UK nations have tracked together, Wales has diverged from the rest of the UK – this is deeply concerning,” she said.

“Things need to change in order to protect the people of Wales from poor mental health and for the next generation. This is not just on an individual basis, but at a systemic level.”

The charity welcomed the Welsh Government’s planned pilot of the new Welsh Child Payment, known as Cynnal, and said prevention-focused policies would be key to improving outcomes.

However, it said progress would require cooperation between Cardiff Bay and Westminster due to the range of economic and social policies affecting mental wellbeing.

The report, titled The state of mental health, analysed data collected between 2009 and 2024 using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), a recognised measure used to identify likely mental health disorders across populations.

The Welsh Government has previously pledged to improve mental health support through its cross-government Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Wales covering 2025 to 2035.

News

Pendine cliff fall victim recovering after major emergency response

Published

59 minutes ago

June 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A 22-YEAR-OLD man who suffered serious injuries after falling from cliffs overlooking Pendine Beach is recovering well following emergency surgery.

The man was visiting Pendine with friends on a weekend break when the incident happened on Saturday afternoon. Emergency services were called to the scene after he fell from a cliff edge above the beach, sustaining significant chest, facial and pelvic injuries.

A major multi-agency response was launched involving the Welsh Ambulance Service, HM Coastguard, Dyfed-Powys Police and the Wales Air Ambulance. Personnel from Pendine Community Council also assisted at the scene.

After receiving emergency treatment, the casualty was airlifted to Cardiff for specialist hospital care, where he underwent surgery.

An update released with the consent of the injured man and his family confirmed that he is now recovering well.

The young man, his family and friends have expressed their gratitude to everyone involved in the rescue effort, treatment and ongoing care.

Special thanks were paid to local resident Michaela Dance, an Emergency Nurse Practitioner, who was first on the scene and provided immediate assistance before emergency crews arrived.

The family said they were extremely thankful for the professionalism, skill and compassion shown by all emergency service personnel and those who helped during the incident.

Despite the seriousness of the injuries sustained, the outcome has been positive, with family and friends acknowledging that the situation could have been far worse.

Pictured are the injured man’s friends with Michaela Dance, presenting her with a gift as a token of their appreciation for the assistance she provided following the incident.

News

Hakin motorist banned after driving 14 times over drug limit

Published

17 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A HAKIN motorist has been banned from driving for three years after being caught behind the wheel with cocaine and benzoylecgonine in his system.

Mark Briskham, 53, of Waterloo Square, Wellington Road, Hakin, was stopped by police on January 5 as he drove a Ford Kuga along Steynton Road, near Milford Haven.

Blood tests carried out at the police station showed he had 800mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

He also had 64mcg of cocaine in his system. The legal limit is 10mcg.

Briskham pleaded guilty to two drug-driving charges when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for three years, taking into account a previous drug-drive conviction from 2020.

He was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.cr