News
Carmarthenshire Council licensing officers review authority’s gambling policy
THE NUMBER of betting shops and bingo halls in Carmarthenshire has reduced by nearly a third in the last three years, reflecting a shift from bricks and mortar gambling to online, a meeting has heard.
Council licensing officers have reviewed the authority’s gambling policy and recommended no major changes but they acknowledged that nearly half of respondents to a consultation felt there were gambling-related problems in their area.
Licensing officer Emyr Jones told the council’s licensing committee there were 18 betting shops, bingo halls, adult gaming centres, horse-racing tracks, and family entertainment centres in the county compared to 26 three years ago. Eleven of the 18 were betting shops, four fewer than in 2022.
A committee report said a further review of the policy was likely after the UK’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport completed its own review of the 2005 Gambling Act. The previous Conservative government published a white paper in 2023 setting out a range of proposals to reform gambling regulation.
Mr Jones said there has been a shift to online gambling but didn’t have any “hard and fast” statistics about the turnover of bricks and mortar gambling venues in Carmarthenshire.
Cllr Ken Howell asked what online gambling controls there were and said he’d heard stories of children becoming involved and getting into debt. Mr Jones said the government’s white paper was looking at improving online safeguarding.
The council’s gambling policy consultation only led to 24 responses, including one from a licence-holder. It found that 46% of respondents felt there were gambling-related problems in their area. Just under a third of respondents felt gambling by children, young people, and other vulnerable people was a problem in their area. But 83% said they weren’t aware of problems as a result of gambling premises close to schools, sixth form colleges, children’s play areas, and treatment centres for drug, alcohol, and other addictions.
One person who responded said betting shops were “the tip of the iceberg” compared to online gambling but were “the first step for many people”.
Another respondent felt the UK’s approach to gambling was irresponsible. “Why would poorer communities such as Llanelli need more places where they can literally throw away money,” they said. “I’m not against gambling as a whole but the TV adverts and online advertising is out of hand and encouraging poor financial decisions.”
A third person said: “There are at least two gambling premises in Ammanford where as a member of the public I have observed people losing money they did not have – also when people have won money they have got drunk/drugs with the winnings.”
By Richard Yule, Local Democracy Reporter
Crime
Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident
A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.
Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.
The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:
- Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
- Common assault
- Assault by beating
No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.
Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.
Crime
Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges
Defendant remanded in custody
A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.
David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
- A second count of assault
- Criminal damage
- An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
- A public order offence
Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.
Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”
A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.
The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.
Crime
Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults
Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing
A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.
Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.
During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.
Charges Include:
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
- Intentional non-fatal strangulation
- Common assault on a woman
- Criminal damage in a domestic context
- Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
- Breach of bail conditions
Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.
Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.
No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.
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