A 32-YEAR-OLD man is due to appear before magistrates next month accused of attempting to obtain hundreds of pounds by allegedly making false claims that money had been incorrectly taken from his bank card.

Craig James, of Fryer Court, Whitworth Close, Gosport, is listed for a plea hearing at 2:00pm in relation to three allegations of fraud by false representation, contrary to the Fraud Act 2006.

The court register states that the offences are alleged to have taken place on December 8, 2025, at three separate locations in west Wales.

In the first allegation, James is accused of dishonestly making a false representation at an address on Bridge Street, Haverfordwest, by allegedly claiming £153.80 had been incorrectly debited from his bank card and asking for it to be returned, intending to make a gain for himself.

A second charge relates to Penfro Garage in Ceredigion, where he is alleged to have made a similar claim involving £180.18.

The third allegation concerns Melrose House on Market Street, Newport, Pembrokeshire, where he is accused of falsely claiming £297 had been incorrectly debited and asking for the money back.

Each charge carries a maximum penalty in the magistrates’ court of up to six months’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

The case was previously listed on December 22, 2025, but was adjourned at the request of the prosecution to allow further enquiries. The court register notes that there were concerns over whether the offences as laid were the correct charges.

James is expected to enter pleas when the matter returns to court.

Calls for lifesaving kit and better mental health support in west Wales after search ends

FAMILY and friends of a Cardigan man missing in the River Teifi have called for more lifesaving equipment to be installed along the riverbank — and for greater investment in mental health support across west Wales.

Kurtis Brook, 30, is believed to have entered the fast-flowing Teifi in Cardigan in the early hours of Sunday (Jan 4). His family say police were called following what they describe as an apparent mental health crisis, and that officers at the scene witnessed him go under the water and not resurface.

A major multi-agency search was launched, involving Dyfed-Powys Police, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Cardigan RNLI and HM Coastguard. Specialist resources were also deployed, including drones, search dogs and the force’s marine unit, while local volunteers joined organised land searches in and around the town.

Kurtis is well known locally, having grown up in Cardigan. He has been involved with Cardigan Amateur Boxing Club and, more recently, Maesglas Football Club, where he was described by those close to the team as a respected and much-loved figure.

On Monday (Jan 12), Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed the formal river search had been concluded after more than a week, saying all lines of enquiry had been exhausted. Officers said they would act on any new information that could help locate Kurtis, and asked anyone who can assist to contact police quoting reference 52 of Sunday (Jan 4).

In a statement, the family said they hoped lessons could be learned from what has happened — both in terms of crisis intervention and public safety. They urged the installation of life rings and other safety measures along dangerous stretches of the Teifi, and called for greater resources to be directed towards community mental health teams in west Wales.

They also thanked everyone who has helped with the search and offered support, as efforts continue to bring Kurtis home.

Survey shows SMEs still cautious on hiring and investment, despite a modest lift in new orders

UK SMALL firms are still feeling gloomy about the economy, with confidence stuck near historic lows as weak growth and rising costs continue to bite, according to a quarterly survey by ACCA and the Institute of Management Accountants.

The UK edition of the Global Economic Conditions Survey (GECS) found confidence among small and medium-sized businesses dipped slightly in the final quarter of 2025, after a sharper fall in the previous quarter. The findings suggest many SMEs are still struggling to shake off the depressed mood that set in at the end of 2024.

Measures tracking investment and staffing also point to caution. Only a small number of respondents said their businesses – or their clients – had increased spending on capital projects over the past three months, while a higher-than-normal proportion reported cutting back.

On employment, the survey recorded a notable share of businesses reducing headcount or pausing recruitment, with relatively few saying they were hiring or restarting recruitment.

There was, however, a small sign of improvement in future demand. The survey’s forward-looking New Orders Index rose in Q4. While still weak by long-term standards, it was reported to be well above the low point seen during the COVID-19 pandemic – suggesting the underlying picture may not be as bleak as other indicators imply, and that some firms may be positioning themselves for better trading conditions.

Lloyd Powell, head of ACCA Cymru/Wales, said confidence remains “fragile,” arguing that businesses have seen little recovery since a sharp drop following the 2024 Budget. He added that the decline after the 2025 Budget was smaller, but said the impact on SMEs and the wider economy remained significant.

Powell said the modest improvement in new orders could indicate some firms are starting to consider investment again as they spot opportunities emerging.

Cost pressures, meanwhile, remain a major concern. More than four in five respondents reported higher operating costs during Q4, and early warning signs of corporate stress – including late payment issues and worries about customers or suppliers going out of business – stayed high compared with historic levels.

Jonathan Ashworth, ACCA’s chief economist, said the Q4 indicators continue to paint a “very downbeat” picture for UK SMEs, with confidence still struggling to recover from the lows seen at the end of 2024. He warned that 2026 is likely to remain difficult, citing sluggish UK growth and global uncertainty.

The survey notes that further interest rate cuts could ease some pressure on businesses, though ongoing domestic cost inflation suggests the Bank of England may have to approach any reductions carefully.