Crime

Guide condemned as ‘arrogant’ after paddleboarding tragedy claims four lives

Published

1 year ago

April 22, 2025

Sentencing of Nerys Lloyd continues at Swansea Crown Court

A FORMER police officer who led a group paddleboarding trip that ended in tragedy has been heavily criticised by victims’ families during sentencing proceedings at Swansea Crown Court.

Nerys Lloyd, 39, admitted four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and a breach of health and safety laws, following the deaths of four people on the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest in October 2021.

***Morgan Rogers, 24, Nicola Wheatley, 40, Andrea Powell, 41, and Lloyd’s co-instructor, Paul O’Dwyer, 42 died in the incident***

The trip, which had been advertised online at £149 per person including accommodation and supervision, ended in disaster when the group were swept over a weir during dangerous river conditions.

The victims were Morgan Rogers, 24, Nicola Wheatley, 40, Andrea Powell, 41, and Lloyd’s co-instructor, Paul O’Dwyer, 42. All were described as beginner or intermediate paddleboarders, with little knowledge of the hazard ahead.

The court heard the river was in flood at the time, with a strong current and a dangerous drop of around 1.3 metres over the weir, except for a narrow fish ramp just wider than a paddleboard.

Prosecutor Mark Watson KC said Lloyd had only a basic instructor qualification, which was not appropriate for guiding a group on a river in such conditions. He told the court nearly two tonnes of water per second was flowing over a one metre-wide section of the weir at the time.

Lloyd was the only member of the group who successfully navigated the fish ramp. The others were swept over the weir and thrown into the fast-moving water.

Families of the victims have condemned Lloyd’s decision to lead the group out in such conditions, calling her actions reckless and accusing her of showing no remorse.

Andrea Powell’s husband, Mark, said his wife would have experienced “sheer panic” and described Lloyd’s failings as “monumental,” labelling her arrogant and careless.

Teresa Hall, mother of Morgan Rogers, told the court: “You guided Morgan to her death,” and described the agony of imagining her daughter struggling to breathe.

Survivor Gemma Cox gave a harrowing account of trying to rescue fellow paddleboarders, saying she had no idea what a weir was and would never have joined the trip had she known.

Another survivor, Melody Johns, called for better safety awareness and regulation, warning that many boards are sold without quick-release leashes that could save lives. A third survivor, Jemma Dugdale, urged organisations including Paddle UK, Paddle Cymru, Sport Wales and Sport England to take action to prevent similar tragedies.

The court also heard that Lloyd was suspended from South Wales Police at the time of the incident, following a caution for an unrelated fraudulent insurance claim. She had not carried out risk assessments or collected next-of-kin information before the trip, causing delays in informing families after the incident.

Following the deaths, Lloyd reportedly said: “It’s my fault 100% … I just turned around and they all fell over.”

The sentencing hearing is due to conclude on Wednesday (Apr 23).

Crime

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

6 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

A SPITTAL man is to stand trial accused of assaulting a man and causing actual bodily harm.

Robert Hedley, 41, of Wesley Way, Spittal, Haverfordwest, is charged with assaulting Liam Morley-Trivett at St Clears on August 30, 2025.

The case was before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jun 18).

Hedley was granted unconditional bail and is due to stand trial at the same court on Monday, June 29.

The trial is listed for 10:00am and has been given a time estimate of twenty minutes.

Crime

Milford Haven woman spared jail despite string of shop thefts

Published

7 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Repeat offender stole from Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and petrol stations in wave of offences

A MILFORD HAVEN woman who admitted a series of shop thefts committed over a matter of weeks has been handed a suspended prison sentence by magistrates.

Marion Picton, aged 46, of Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 18) and pleaded guilty to eight theft offences and a drugs-related offence.

The court heard that Picton carried out a string of thefts at stores across Milford Haven between April and June this year.

Among the offences, Picton admitted stealing meat from Food Warehouse on Apr 23, food worth £60 from Victoria Filling Station on May 29, groceries from Home Bargains on Jun 7 and Jun 8, food from Victoria Filling Station on Jun 7 and Jun 9, groceries and non-food items worth £51.09 from Tesco on Jun 16, and food worth £32.50 from Food Warehouse on the same day.

She also admitted failing to attend an initial drugs assessment after testing positive for Class A drugs, including cocaine and opiates.

Magistrates were told the offences represented persistent repeat offending and had been committed while Picton was already subject to a court order.

The bench imposed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

As part of the order, Picton must complete up to 15 rehabilitation activity days under the supervision of the Probation Service.

The court ordered her to pay compensation to several of the businesses affected, including Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and Victoria Filling Station.

In sentencing, magistrates said the offences were serious enough to justify immediate custody but suspended the sentence because there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and Picton appeared motivated to address her addiction issues.

Picton was warned that any further offending during the 18-month suspension period could see the prison sentence activated.