Town clerk shares article calling for editor to be “locked up” as private messages appear online

A DEFAMATION dispute involving Neyland Town Council escalated dramatically on Sunday (Dec 7) after an anonymous website published an article attacking The Herald’s editor Tom Sinclair, prompting the council’s clerk to share it publicly with comments urging others to circulate it.

It follows The Pembrokeshire Herald reporting on the action’s of the Clerk, a Proper Officer of a Community Council posting inappropriately on Facebook.

Of course, it is any local newspaper’s role to hold such actions to account.

The anonymous website, calling itself Clear Line News, was created only days earlier. It published an article on Sunday afternoon accusing Mr Sinclair of harassment, stalking, misuse of personal information, and other allegations which Mr Sinclair strongly denies. The piece was unsigned and provided no evidence to support its claims.

When asked a readers who was behind the Clear Line, the reply came “We wish to keep this information private to ensure safety and wellbeing of the team. We are not regulated at all.”

Of particular concern is the appearance within the article of private Facebook Messenger screenshots taken from one-to-one conversations between Mr Sinclair and a local resident. These messages had never been published elsewhere.

Town clerk shares article with hostile remarks

Within minutes of the article appearing, Neyland Town Council’s clerk, Libby Matthews, posted it publicly on her personal Facebook page, writing: “If you’re a victim of his, you know this article is spot on… What a specimen. He should be locked up and the key thrown away. Share this far and wide.”

The comments have raised serious questions about impartiality, conduct online, and the appropriateness of a Statutory Officer sharing anonymous allegations while encouraging wider dissemination.

Neyland Town Council is already the subject of a £50,000 legal claim issued by Mr Sinclair this weekend relating to a statement the council posted on 8 October accusing the Herald of “targeted” and “bullying” reporting. That claim disputes the wording and the process used before publication.

The Pembrokeshire Herald, and it’s editor have been under attack for reporting on the chaotic goings on in Neyland Town Council, a matter of huge public interest, especially for the town’s residents.

Questions over authorship and anonymous page

Following separate reporting that ruffled feathers, Earlier in the week, SARS Cymru director Ajay Owen posted publicly that he had created a new page called Clear Line News. But soon after the defamatory article appeared, Mr Owen stated on Facebook that he had “sold the page for £10” to a person named “Tomos”, but in private messages told Mr Sinclair he “agreed with the article”. The Herald understands that only two individuals—Mr Owen and one other—had publicly connected themselves to the page before the article was published.

Ajay Owen has previously criticised The Herald’s editor for reports about him, and said he wanted to start his own news page

Only two posts have appeared on the page: a short item about taxi enforcement, and the piece targeting Mr Sinclair.

Another local resident, Sally Nolan, who previously featured in Herald court reporting, also shared the article publicly, writing: “Absolutely fantastic… please share everyone and let’s make this go viral.” Private messages between Ms Nolan and Mr Sinclair also appeared in the anonymous article.

Police report, legal actions and data concerns

Following the publication and rapid spread of the article, Mr Sinclair filed a police report on Sunday evening alleging harassment and malicious communications. He has also issued separate Pre-Action Protocol letters to Neyland Town Council, Ms Nolan and Mr Owen.

The appearance of private correspondence in an anonymous article raises questions about the handling, sharing and publication of personal data. Mr Sinclair said he will await the outcome of police inquiries.

Herald statement

A spokesperson for the Herald said: “The article published by the anonymous ‘Clear Line News’ website contains multiple serious allegations which are entirely false. It includes private messages that were never publicly shared.

Given the involvement of a statutory officer, the proximity to live legal proceedings, and the wider online circulation encouraged by individuals with personal disputes against our editor, this matter is being dealt with through the appropriate legal and regulatory channels.”

NEYLAND will welcome Father Christmas on Friday 19 December as the town’s annual sleigh tour and Christmas grotto return, organised by Neyland Town Council with support from Gareth Hughes Motors.

The Christmas Fairy announced the event on social media with the seasonal message: “It’s tiiiiiiimmmmmmeeee! I hope you’ve all been good… come and meet the big man himself. You might even get a little treat if you’re on Santa’s good list. We can’t wait to see you all there.”

Santa will begin his sleigh ride around Neyland at 5:30pm, with the elves from Gareth Hughes Motors escorting him through several of the town’s residential streets. The planned route will take in Rose and Willow at 5:30pm, Springfield Avenue, the entrance to Gordon Parry, the Forresters, Policeman’s Bank, the Yacht Club area, and Riverside Avenue by the cenotaph.

The sleigh will then arrive at Neyland Community Hub at 6:30pm, where Santa’s Grotto will open for families to visit. Hot festive food will be available to buy from The Hub’s kitchen throughout the evening.

The event is free to attend, with the Town Council encouraging as many families as possible to come along and enjoy the festivities.

THE SENIOR Coroner for Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire has said he will write to the South Wales Trunk Road Agency and Carmarthenshire Council to request further road markings on the A48, following the inquest into the tragic death of Swansea solicitor Emily Thornton-Sandy.

His action follows the devastating collision in which Emily died after another driver travelled the wrong way down the dual carriageway. The coroner recorded a conclusion of Road Traffic Collision.

Emily, from Pontarddulais, had been travelling home from a veterinary appointment at around midday on 5 November 2024 when the collision occurred between Pont Abraham and Cross Hands.

Her dog, Scout, sadly died shortly afterwards. Emily was taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff but died six days later from catastrophic injuries. The collision involved two other vehicles.

At the inquest on 3 December 2025 at Llanelli Town Hall, Senior Coroner Paul Bennett said a 90-year-old driver had pulled out of a junction on the eastbound side of the A48 near Cross Hands, leaving Emily no time to react. Two other vehicles were also struck in the tragic sequence of events.

Evidence from Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that the road was in good condition, the weather was dry and overcast, visibility was clear, and the junction already had a sign instructing drivers to turn left. No emergency braking marks were found, and both drivers were wearing seatbelts.

The inquest also heard that the driver who caused the collision had been seen by a medic at his home two days earlier after experiencing a sudden loss of consciousness. He was assessed following the episode but, the court heard, there had been no medical instruction or clear indication at that time that he should not continue driving.

In light of the evidence, the coroner confirmed he will raise concerns with the South Wales Trunk Road Agency and Carmarthenshire Council about the junction from which the other driver exited moments before the fatal crash.

Emily’s family have welcomed the decision, hoping it will draw attention to long-standing safety concerns on a stretch of road where Dyfed-Powys Police recorded 169 crashes in just 12 months. However, they remain gravely concerned that further markings alone will not prevent future incidents, given that clear signage is already in place.*

Emily’s family have described her as intelligent, kind and compassionate, devoted to her work supporting people affected by asbestos exposure, and passionate about literature and houseplants. Three people benefited from organ donation following her heartbreaking death.

During the inquest, where the family were represented by Thompsons Solicitors, statements from Emily’s husband and parents were read out.

Her husband, Stuart, said he would do all he could to prevent other families suffering similar loss. He said: “Nobody should have to see their wife as I saw Emily in hospital. Emily lost her life and I lost my future. I never envisaged living my life without her. I felt like I lost purpose when I lost Emily and Scout.”

Emily’s parents described her death as an avoidable tragedy and urged people to speak up if they have concerns about the driving ability of an elderly relative, in the hope that it may prevent another family enduring such unbearable grief.

Helen Shakespeare, Partner at Thompsons Solicitors and the family’s legal representative, said: “Emily’s death was devastating to all who knew and loved her. The inquest has shown that what happened was entirely avoidable.

“The family therefore welcome the coroner’s decision to raise concerns with the highways authorities, but they remain deeply worried that more meaningful action is needed to address the wider safety issues on a road where so many serious incidents have occurred.”