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Council and hospital dominate panel debate

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Bryn Parry-Jones: Still creating a stir

Bryn Parry-Jones: Still creating a stir

CLAIMS made in recent council debates that the general public were uninterested in the scandal and intrigue that has plagued County Hall for the last year, were conclusively proved to be wrong by a vocal and enthusiastic audience at a Question Time organized by Haverfordwest’s Civic Society. Facing around 200 members of the public, Council Leader Jamie Adams was joined on the panel at St Mary’s church, Haverfordwest, by local AM Paul Davies (standing in for Stephen Crabb MP), Labour candidate for Preseli Pembrokeshire Paul Miller, and Hakin councillor and columnist Mike Stoddart.

The panel was closely quizzed on events at the local authority, including the departure of former Chief Executive Bryn Parry-Jones and the £280K+ bonanza he received when he left. While Jamie Adams defended the secrecy surrounding the payoff, other panellists expressed strong views that the public interest in the expenditure of a signifi cant sum of public money outweighed any right to confi dentiality in the agreement’s terms. In particular, Mike Stoddart was critical of the way in which information was not made available to councillors until after the point where they had to vote for or against the settlement.

As this paper revealed previously, selected members of the ruling group had been extensively briefed on the terms of the settlement before a committee convened to investigate Mr Parry-Jones ‘ conduct had the opportunity to reach a decision. Paul Davies made clear his view that the settlement should have been discussed openly and in public and that the whole affair had ‘severely damaged’ the local authority’s reputation. The council also came under heavy criticism for its neglect of Pembrokeshire’s town centres and historic buildings.

With the debate taking place in Haverfordwest, the way in which the council has dealt with the town’s castle came in for adverse comment from the audience. While Cllr Adams tried to place the development in the context of attempts to regenerate the town as a destination for tourism, audience members were unconvinced by his approach to the subject.

Describing the exchanges as ‘robust, though mostly good-natured’, Mike Stoddart afterwards wrote on his blog that Cllr Adams’ claim to the audience that he had refuted allegations he had lied over an issue in the Pembroke Dock grants scandal, while inviting the audience to review what he had actually said, was not borne out by the webcast record.

Responding to a question about the cuts imposed by the Local Health Board, there was near unanimity among the panel that local services should have been retained and must be protected. However, Paul Miller sounded a cautionary note about the issue of health care provision being used as ‘a political football’.

 

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Crime

Fishguard man admits assault and criminal damage

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Court orders no contact with woman and bans him from address ahead of sentencing

A FISHGUARD man has admitted assaulting a woman and damaging property during an incident earlier this year.

Peter Bromley, aged 50, of Parc y Chwarel, Fishguard, appeared before magistrates at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court for a first hearing.

He pleaded guilty to assault by beating and criminal damage.

The court heard that on January 13, 2026, at Fishguard, Bromley assaulted a woman by beating her.

During the same incident, he also damaged crockery belonging to her.

Magistrates adjourned the case for sentencing to allow a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

Bromley was remanded on conditional bail and must return to Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, February 26 at 12:00pm.

Strict bail conditions were imposed. He must not contact the complainant directly or indirectly and must not attend her address in Fishguard.

Sentencing will take place later this month.

 

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Man admits assault and criminal damage in Goodwick

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Defendant remanded on bail with county exclusion and no-contact order ahead of sentencing

A MAN with no fixed address has admitted assaulting a woman and damaging her property in Goodwick.

Scott Hughes, aged 27, appeared before magistrates at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Feb 4).

He pleaded guilty to assault by beating and to criminal damage.

The court heard that on November 29, 2025, at an address in Maesgrug, Stop and Call, Goodwick, Hughes assaulted a female by beating her.

In a separate incident on November 23, 2025, he damaged a Christmas ornament belonging to the same woman. The value of the damage was listed as unknown.

Magistrates adjourned the case for sentence to allow a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

Hughes was remanded on conditional bail and must attend the next hearing at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, February 19 at 12:00pm.

Strict conditions were imposed. He must not contact the complainant directly or indirectly and must not attend her home address in Goodwick.

He is also banned from entering the entire county of Pembrokeshire except for court appearances.

The court further ordered him to attend the probation service on February 11 for the preparation of a report.

Sentencing will take place later this month.

 

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Crime

Pembroke Dock man admits threatening to hack woman’s head off with sword

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Court imposes strict bail conditions and bans contact with named individuals ahead of sentencing

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has admitted sending a message threatening serious violence and has been remanded on conditional bail while the court prepares a pre-sentence report.

Charles Bianchy, aged 37, of Pembroke Street, Pembroke Dock, appeared before magistrates at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.

He pleaded guilty to making a communication conveying a threat of serious harm, contrary to Section 181 of the Online Safety Act 2023.

The court heard that on September 16, 2025, at Pembroke Dock, Bianchy sent a message to a woman, threatening to hack that woman’s head off with a sword, intending, or being reckless as to whether, the recipient would fear the threat would be carried out.

Magistrates adjourned the case for sentencing to allow for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Bianchy was remanded on conditional bail and must attend the next hearing at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, February 26 at 10:00am.

Strict bail conditions were imposed. He must not contact the alleged victim and one other witness to the case, directly or indirectly, and must not attend at a specified address in, Pembroke Dock.

He is also prohibited from entering any data, or permitting any data to be entered, onto any electronic network referencing the complainant .

The case will return to court later this month for sentencing.

(Image: File photo)

 

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