News

Pembrokeshire women continue to demand justice over state pension scandal

Published

5 months ago

July 10, 2025

Campaigners call for mediation, not litigation, after Westminster debate

PEMBROKESHIRE women born in the 1950s say they have been left “ignored, impoverished and discriminated against” by successive governments, as calls grow for urgent mediation with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) over the state pension age scandal.

Campaigners from the local Pembrokeshire and Carmarthen West 1950s women’s group said they were encouraged by the outcome of a backbench debate held in Westminster last week (July 3), where MPs across parties backed calls for dialogue and redress.

The group has been vocal for over a decade, claiming that thousands of women in west Wales were never properly informed that their state pension age had risen from 60 to 66 – leaving many struggling to survive after retiring or being forced out of work early.

Pembrokeshire voices ‘ignored’

Campaign organiser Jackie Gilderdale said local women had directly appealed to both Pembrokeshire MPs to speak at the debate. While Plaid Cymru MP Ben Lake responded and gave a powerful speech in support, Labour MP Henry Tufnell failed to reply to the request.

In Parliament, Mr Lake said: “It is outrageous that the Government is dismissing outright the ombudsman’s findings. The women affected are pragmatic – they are willing to talk. Why force them into long, drawn-out legal battles? Justice is already overdue.”

He added that over 300,000 women had died waiting for redress, equivalent to “one woman dying every 12 minutes.”

A decade of delay

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) found in 2024 that the DWP had committed maladministration in failing to inform women properly about the pension changes. But campaigners say the investigation process was deeply flawed, having ignored key evidence and voices from Welsh groups.

Jackie Gilderdale, who has helped hundreds of women locally, said: “One woman in our group, who worked for Hywel Dda Health Board, planned her retirement at 60. She had no idea the pension age had changed until I met her in 2018. She had to scrap her plans to care for her husband and was left financially devastated.”

Campaigners argue that women born in the 1950s were already disadvantaged throughout their working lives – often earning less than men, receiving lower private pensions, and taking time off to care for children without support.

No excuse for delay

During the debate, MP Rebecca Long Bailey said the decision to raise the pension age “was dumped on women overnight,” with no proper notice or support. She accused the Government of creating one of the worst social injustices in recent memory.

Campaign groups such as WASPI and 1950s Women of Wales have called for a mediation-based resolution, including early neutral evaluation and direct dialogue with ministers, instead of further court action.

They argue that redress must reflect both financial harm and gender discrimination, with proposals including an initial lump sum and further staged payments over five years.

The Treasury, campaigners point out, has saved over £181 billion through raising the pension age, and over £81 billion remains in the National Insurance Fund.

A Pembrokeshire scandal

Jackie Gilderdale added: “Pembrokeshire women have been badly let down. We were asked to follow due process – we did. We were told to wait for the ombudsman – we did. But the outcome has been ignored.

“We are calling for a full public inquiry and mediation now. The time for delays is over. This isn’t just about backpay – it’s about dignity, equality, and justice for thousands of women across west Wales.”

The Herald understands that campaigners will now seek to meet with Pembrokeshire’s MPs again to demand a formal response and renewed support for mediation.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

4 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.