News
Pembroke Dock: Cannabis pensioner gets suspended sentence

Swansea Crown Court
A PENSIONER who has fought a 30 year campaign to be allowed to use cannabis as a medicine has received a suspended prison sentence on Tuesday (Dec 9). The retired oil refinery supervisor, has previously served two prison sentences while taking on the government in a bid for those suffering chronic pain to be allowed to take cannabis for pain relief.
Eric Mann, aged 71, who believes cannabis can be used to treat even cancer, admitted producing the drug and to supplying it sick people.
Mann, of Harbour Way, Pembroke Dock, had earlier told the court he would fight the charges on the grounds that it was his human right to be free of pain.
But on the day his trial was due to begin at Swansea crown court he changed his pleas to guilty to charges of producing cannabis and to supplying cannabis oil.
Judge Paul Thomas told Mann that, like everyone else, the law of the land had to be obeyed and no-one could pick and choose which ones to abide by.

Gareth Mann: Avoided jail this time (Pic: BBC)
Ian Ibrahim, representing Mann, said he had been a coal miner and a construction site supervisor until he was forced to retire because of severe arthritis.
He self medicated himself and began to take cannabis, which, he said, relieved the pain.
Mr Ibrahim said police found 21 small cannabis plants and five jars of cannabis oil at the defendant’s home last year and in another raid this summer found he been producing cannabis again.
“The defendant regards himself as a care giver and looks upon cannabis as a medicine allowing him to break the law,” added Mr Ibrahim.
Mann had claimed to have developed a way of removing the psycho-active element of cannabis so users would get the benefit but not get “high.”
The court heard Mann had numerous previous convictions relating to cannabis.
He told the court personally, “I worked all my life and when I got ill I tried conventional drugs but they didn’t work. One drug I was using was withdrawn because people were killing themselves after becoming suicidal on it.
“When you’re in pain all the time and you can’t even put your socks on or make a cup of tea or anything life isn’t worth living but I found I could function through the use of cannabis as a medicine.”
Mann was jailed for 12 months, suspended for 12 months, and placed under supervision.
Judge Thomas told him, “Week in, week out in these courts see the effects cannabis has on people, particularly on their mental state. Whatever your views, cannabis does effect people’s minds, that is my experience and there is very good medical opinion as to why people should not take cannabis.
“I think you genuinely consider you are helping yourself and can do a service to others and that cannabis can cure or at least have a beneficial effect on cancer sufferers. But the vast proportion of medical opinion is that you are misguided in that and you are deluding yourself and others.”
The judge added he hoped Mann would now look at alternative methods of pain relief.
News
Local rugby talent Osian Williams selected for Wales Under-20 clash with England
A FORMER Haverfordwest Blues junior has earned international honours after being selected to represent Wales Under-20 rugby union team in their fixture against England.
Osian Williams, who began his rugby journey at Haverfordwest Rugby Football Club, will pull on the red jersey this evening in what marks a proud milestone for both the player and the Pembrokeshire club that helped develop his talent.
Club members said the call-up reflects years of hard work, commitment and steady progress through the ranks, with Williams recognised locally for his determination and performances on the pitch from a young age.
A spokesperson for Haverfordwest RFC said the whole club is “incredibly proud” to see one of their own step onto the international stage.
They added that it is always special to watch former junior players progress to represent their country, describing Williams’ selection as “fully deserved” and an inspiration to the next generation coming through the Blues’ youth setup.
The match against England provides a stern test for the young Welsh side, but for Williams and his family it is also a moment to savour after years of dedication to the sport.
Friends, coaches and former teammates are expected to be cheering him on from Pembrokeshire as he makes his mark in Welsh colours.
Photo caption:
Osian Williams has been selected to play for Wales Under-20s against England (Pic: Supplied).
Crime
Man arrested for murder following death of pensioner in Pembroke Dock
Officers called to Hawkstone Road property as investigation continues and residents urged to come forward
DYFED-POWYS POLICE officers have launched a murder investigation following the sudden death of an eighty-five-year-old man at a property in Hawkstone Road, Pembroke Dock.
Emergency services were called at approximately 1:30pm today (Friday, Feb 6).
Officers attended the scene and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the death.
A man in his forties has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody.
Residents can expect to see an increased police presence in the area while the investigation continues.
Anyone with information that could assist officers is urged to come forward.
Information can be provided online, by 101.
Quote reference: 212 of February 6.
Alternatively, reports can be made anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via their website.
Education
Second west Wales school placed in lockdown within days
Precautionary measures activated at Ysgol Brynteg after morning disturbance outside gates
CARMARTHENSHIRE pupils were kept inside classrooms after a precautionary lockdown was triggered at Ysgol Brynteg on Friday morning (Feb 6), marking the second west Wales secondary school to enter lockdown in the same week.
Police were called shortly after 9:00am following reports of a verbal altercation outside the school grounds.
Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police attended and the Llanelli school activated its safeguarding procedures while the situation was assessed.
No weapons were reported, no injuries have been confirmed and there have been no arrests at this stage. The incident is understood to have involved a dispute outside the site rather than inside the school itself.
Pupils remained indoors under staff supervision while officers made checks. Once police were satisfied there was no ongoing risk, the lockdown was lifted and lessons continued as normal.
A spokesperson said the measure was purely precautionary.
The incident comes just days after armed officers were deployed to Milford Haven School following a serious assault on a teacher, prompting a temporary closure and widespread concern among parents.
While the circumstances in Llanelli were far less severe, the two events occurring so close together have heightened anxiety among families across west Wales.
Schools routinely use lockdown procedures when there is any uncertainty or potential threat nearby, even if the risk later proves minimal. The approach is designed to err on the side of caution and protect pupils while emergency services investigate.
Parents were informed that Brynteg was safe and operating normally once the situation had been resolved.
There is currently no indication that pupils inside the school were directly involved in the disturbance.
The Herald understands enquiries are ongoing.
Both incidents underline how quickly everyday school days can be disrupted, and how safeguarding responses are increasingly becoming part of standard practice across Welsh schools.
Anyone with information about the Llanelli incident is asked to contact police.
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Peter Warrennder
December 9, 2014 at 5:01 pm
It is the judge that is deluded, and if he believes what he said to Eric, he should educate himself to how thousands of sick people find relief from their ailments by taking medicinal cannabis. The judicial system like our governments is in the pockets of corporate powers, who are the very ones benefitting from the cannabis prohibition. How can someone taking control of their own health warrant a prison sentence. Too many times the wrong people are going on trial in this country. The laws need reforming to allow the sick the right to alternative medicine. Conventional treatments are designed to treat illness never to cure it. Why would they want a cure when they are making billions off the backs of sick people, by providing ineffective expensive treatments, full of side effects, that then need even more drugs to combat the side effects. Legalising cannabis would save the NHS millions by not having to buy overpriced pharmaceutical products. There are thousands of testimonies from people who have successfully treated themselves with cannabis, but have had to take these steps under the threat of prosecution by an unfair justice system. Sick people have enough on their plate without worrying about this.
Alan Brown
December 9, 2014 at 5:28 pm
“Judge Paul Thomas told Mann that, like everyone else, the law of the land had to be obeyed and no-one could pick and choose which ones to abide by.”
That is a highly debatable proposition. It seems to be quite acceptable in practice to evade the consequences of breaking UK law if you’ve got money and influence and can afford the best lawyers, or if you belong to one of the religions that claims exemption from e.g. animal cruelty legislation.
Andrew Lye
December 10, 2014 at 5:10 am
I have seen the effects of cannabis use on people and agree in part with the judge’s comments.
The defendant though is in great pain we can accept. I accept cannabis can help alleviate the symptoms, but the guy shouldn’t impose his views on others or supply cannabis to others. It easy for the judge to say he should find alternative pain relief. I presume conventional medicine either doesn’t work or has let him down?
It’s ironic that alcohol is a legal drug, and tobacco. Would we legalise those now, if we could start the world again? They kill thousands in the UK, every year.
darcey
December 10, 2014 at 10:27 pm
my husband suffered terrible when told he had grade 4 brain cancer, he suffered from cramps in his hands and legs, the doctors tried all kinds of medicines which never touched him, my husband used to cry in pain, one doctor told my husband to try cannabis, he said smoke a joint before bed, we managed to pay some and he smoked it before bed and for the first time in 2 years he slept all night, which made him feel better all day, then when ever he had an attack of the cramps he would take a couple of drags of a joint and within 10 minutes the cramps would ease and pain die down something any of the tables couldn’t do, they gave my husband 3 to 6 mths to live and i swear him smoking cannabis enabled him to live for 4 and a half years longer, which baffled doctors. and when he did pass he was pain free, i cannot understand why the government don’t have special leeway for people that can prove that cannabis works for them and there pain, like the gentleman said everyone’s entitled to a pain free life. cannabis works as a pain relief, and i have told quite a few people with cancer that are in a lot of pain to look into the benefits of cannabis, as well as the down falls there are also the benefits of use. all we had to do is google and we had all the answers. unless you have been there you will never no, and i hope you never get to no. i cant see how people can give an opinion when they never had to resort to using cannabis for pain relief. when your screaming in pain and nothing is working, you would use it, if you thought the pain would go….i could go on about what it did for my husband but unless you have been there you won’t understand.
tomos
December 11, 2014 at 10:48 pm
lets not forget that ciggys and booze are bigger killers than class A drugs, be honest pizzas,pies and sofas are bigger killers so never heard that DFS managers or macyds sent to jail