News

Young woman’s plea to public: Don’t film crash scenes – show compassion instead

Published

6 months ago

July 2, 2025

Trauma campaign launched following father’s near-fatal accident

A YOUNG woman whose father was left with life-changing injuries after a crash has joined a powerful new campaign urging people in Pembrokeshire and beyond to stop filming at the scene of serious incidents.

Eve Thomas, who was just 17 when her father Nigel was struck by a car while cycling home from work, said the trauma of the crash was made significantly worse by people filming the aftermath on their mobile phones and uploading the footage to social media.

The campaign – It’s not your story to tell – is being led by the South Wales Trauma Network and is supported by emergency services and hospitals across Wales, including Withybush General Hospital in Haverfordwest, which forms part of the network’s rural trauma response.

Speaking about the day of the incident, Eve said: “I was on my school bus when we were stopped due to a crash. I saw my dad’s bike – I recognised it immediately because I had put the stickers on it. Students started filming on their phones, and I knew deep down it was him.”

Nigel, then 65 and a delivery driver, was left in an induced coma and spent nine months in hospital. Eve said the family endured intense pain not only from his injuries but also from the circulation of speculation and graphic footage online.

“My godmother called us after seeing a post on social media – she thought Dad had died,” said Eve, who is now 25 and her father’s primary carer. “No family should have to go through that. The ways things were filmed and shared became a big part of what I had to work through in therapy.”

Pembrokeshire’s emergency responders are all too familiar with the dangers of mobile phone use at incident scenes – not only for the dignity of those involved, but because it often interferes with the work of ambulance crews and firefighters.

Andrea Bradley, a senior nurse and Operations Manager at the South Wales Trauma Network, co-produced the campaign alongside Eve. “We’re incredibly proud of Eve’s bravery,” she said. “Filming crash victims not only affects those individuals and their families – it can hinder our ability to save lives.”

The trauma network includes local response from Withybush General Hospital, as well as Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth, both of which serve rural communities like Pembrokeshire where long-distance travel times can already complicate emergency care.

Welsh Government Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Sarah Murphy MS, added: “What might feel like a moment of curiosity – a quick photo or video – can have devastating long-term effects on those involved. I commend Eve for speaking out.”

The Herald understands this is part of a wider push across Wales to challenge public attitudes towards crash scenes, with a focus on education, dignity and the importance of calling for help rather than capturing content.

Eve concluded: “That person in front of you is someone’s parent, child, or best friend. Would you want someone filming your loved one when they were at their most vulnerable?”

With Pembrokeshire’s roads often busy in the summer and a growing number of cycling and motorbike incidents reported annually, the campaign hopes to influence behaviour across the region and beyond.

News

Pembroke Dock man sent to Crown Court over alleged ABH assault

Published

8 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Charge relates to incident in the town last weekend

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been sent to the Crown Court for trial after appearing before magistrates accused of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Darren Markes, aged 47, of High Street, Pembroke Dock, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard that Markes is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to the Offences Against the Person Act.

The charge relates to an alleged incident on Friday (Dec 13) in Pembroke Dock, when it is alleged that Markes assaulted a woman, causing her actual bodily harm.

No plea was entered at the hearing.

Due to the seriousness of the allegation, magistrates declined jurisdiction and ordered that the case be sent to the Crown Court for trial under the Crime and Disorder Act.

Markes was remanded on conditional bail. Conditions include:

Not contacting a witness, directly or indirectly
Reporting to Pembroke Dock police station every Wednesday between 12:00pm and 2:00pm
Living and sleeping each night at his home address

He is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Jan 16) at 9:30am for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Crime

Aberystwyth man denies criminal damage charge over Cardigan gallery window

Published

8 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Alleged incident said to have taken place on Bridge Street

AN ABERYSTWYTH man has denied a charge of criminal damage relating to an alleged incident in Cardigan.

Ricky Myers, aged 27, of Jasper House, Aberystwyth, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard that Myers is accused of criminal damage to property valued under £5,000, contrary to the Criminal Damage Act 1971.

The charge relates to an incident on Saturday (Aug 24, 2024) at Manchester House on Bridge Street, Cardigan, where it is alleged that a window at the Cardigan Gallery was damaged. The property is said to belong to Peter Austin.

Myers pleaded not guilty to the allegation.

Magistrates adjourned the case for further case management, and Myers was remanded on conditional bail, with a condition that he live and sleep each night at his home address.

He is due to return to court at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 17) at 2:00pm.

Crime

Pembroke Dock man remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on string of offences

Published

8 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Harassment charge and three assaults among cases listed for Llanelli court

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing after admitting a series of offences, including harassment and assaults.

Tony Brundrett, aged 21, of Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard Brundrett has pleaded guilty to harassment without violence, contrary to the Protection from Harassment Act. The charge alleges that between Tuesday (Sep 17) and Thursday (Oct 31) at Spring View, Pembroke Dock, he pursued a course of conduct amounting to harassment of a female, including attending her home address and contacting her by text message.

He has also admitted assault by beating against the same female, alleged to have taken place on Wednesday (May 21) at Spring View, Pembroke Dock, and a further assault by beating against a second female on Thursday (Oct 30), also at Spring View.

Magistrates were additionally told that Brundrett faces a further allegation of common assault against a third female, said to have occurred on Tuesday (Dec 9) at Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock. No plea was recorded to that matter in the register entry.

Brundrett has also pleaded guilty to a number of offences linked to an incident in Haverfordwest on Saturday (Nov 16). These include:

Aggravated vehicle taking, involving a Vauxhall Corsa, with damage caused before recovery
Using a motor vehicle without insurance
Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence
Criminal damage, involving a window belonging to Pembrokeshire County Council

He was remanded in custody, with the next hearing listed at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 31) at 10:00am.