News

Council’s stinking discharge

Published

12 years ago

November 20, 2013

EAGLE-EYED member of the public contacted The Pembrokeshire Herald about a Pembrokeshire County Council gully tanker emptying waster directly into the waters of the River Cleddau at Hobbs Point, Pembroke Dock.

Shocking photographs have captured the moment when black discharge is pumped, via a gully sewer into the Haven.

Photographer Mike Hillen, who took the images, said: “I was in the area, having lunch at Hobbs Point with my wife, when I noticed a council lorry on the left hand side of the road. The lorry was parked in the same spot for twenty to thirty minutes.

“At first glance it looked as if the lorry was cleaning the drain, but then I noticed a black stinking discharge coming from a pipe into the Haven.”

“It was obvious that the driver was not cleaning the drain but emptying his lorry into the sea. I immediately reported the incident to the Environment Agency, whose immediate view was that it should not have been happening.”

Hobbs Point is a popular spot with local anglers. One of them, Paul Kelly of Pembroke, told The Herald:

“This is terrible. I can’t believe the Council is just emptying filth into the river where we all fish.”

A spokesman from Pembrokeshire County Council said: “We are making inquiries but can confirm that the vehicle pictured is a gully tanker used by the County Council for clearing roadside gullies into which surface rainwater is discharged. It does not handle sewage. Gullies normally empty into rivers or streams, but this particular gully empties directly into the sea.”

The Herald has confirmed with the Environment Agency that emptying gully water into a river potentially introduces contaminants into the marine environment. The Environment Agency notes that material recovered from gullies can include heavy metals, diesel, car waste, silt and rotting small animal carcasses.

A Natural Resources Wales spokeswoman confirmed that they are looking into the incident. NRW told The Herald:

“We’d like to thank those who reported concerns to us over this activity. In response, we’ve launched a thorough investigation to identify whether this took place legitimately or not.”

At the time of going to press, The Pembrokeshire Herald understands that an NRW investigation is taking place at Hobbs Point to establish precisely what was discharged into the Cleddau.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

12 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

12 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

12 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.