News

Pembrokeshire council opposition leader addresses Reform UK rumours

Published

5 months ago

July 31, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

THE LEADER of Pembrokeshire County Council’s main opposition group has dismissed suggestions that his members could defect to Reform UK, following reports they attended a recent party event.

Cllr Huw Murphy, who heads the 21-strong Independent Group (IPG), was among at least four IPG councillors who attended a Reform UK ‘social’ at the Ivy Bush Hotel, Carmarthen, on July 18. The meeting, described as a members-only event, sparked speculation that some Independent councillors could be sympathetic to, or even considering joining, the party.

No such links have been declared in the councillors’ public registers of interests.

The county council is currently run by a coalition of unaffiliated members, Labour, Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Cllr Murphy said attending political events was part of understanding the wider political landscape.

“Since being elected I’ve attended a Plaid Cymru conference in Aberystwyth, heard Mark Drakeford speak in Newport, and recently went to a Reform meeting in Carmarthen,” he said.
“I’m not a member of any political party and at every event I have simply listened. There is clearly a desire for change due to the failures of the two main political parties over the last 100 years – the Conservatives and Labour. Both promise better but rarely deliver, always blaming others and never taking responsibility. That’s why we’ve seen the rise of Reform and Plaid Cymru.”

He stressed that the Independent Group will continue to act as a strong but fair opposition in Pembrokeshire.

“We will not oppose for opposition’s sake, but we will challenge policies that harm residents and ensure taxpayers’ money is used responsibly,” he said. “The benefit of being an Independent is that you can represent your community without being bound by party politics.”

On whether any IPG members are Reform UK members, he said: “I can’t speak for others, but I would be extremely surprised. I can’t see any of us defecting, and there is no likelihood of us becoming a Reform group. We went to the meeting as members of the public. Sometimes we may agree with what’s said, sometimes not. I didn’t speak – I just listened.

“We went, so what? Some people will say ‘good for you’, others will say ‘how dare you’. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

6 minutes 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

28 minutes 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

35 minutes 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.