News

Castle Pill Boat Club allegations prompt Port response

Published

4 months ago

August 13, 2025

THE PORT of Milford Haven has responded to allegations of mismanagement at Castle Pill Boat Club, stressing that it has no authority to intervene in internal club matters.

In recent weeks, concerns have been raised by some members of Castle Pill Boat Club over financial transparency, mooring fee payments, and the general condition of the compound, where several boats appear to have been left unused for extended periods and rubbish has accumulated around the site.

Photos seen by The Pembrokeshire Herald show discarded ropes, damaged equipment, and overgrown weeds surrounding vessels and trailers. Critics of the current committee say the club is being “run down” and claim that governance and record-keeping have fallen short of expected standards.

The Harbourmaster at the Port of Milford Haven, Mike Ryan, told The Herald:
“Castle Pill is one of twelve designated ‘Voluntary Control Areas’. A Voluntary Controlled Area (VCA) within the Port of Milford Haven refers to a mooring zone where the management of moorings is delegated by Milford Haven Port Authority to local community organisations, known as Voluntary Control Bodies (VCBs). These VCBs, often local yacht or boat clubs, oversee the administration of moorings on behalf of the Port and The Crown Estate. They are responsible for tasks such as processing mooring applications, maintaining records of mooring holders and their vessels, and ensuring adherence to licensing requirements. The day-to-day management is conducted by the Voluntary Control Officer (VCO) (or Club’s mooring officer) who liaises directly with the Port.

“The Port of Milford Haven has no authority to intervene in any internal Club matters and any allegations of a criminal nature should be reported to Dyfed Powys Police.”

Mooring and Crown Estate fees

Mr Ryan explained that within a VCA, mooring licence fees and Crown Estate charges are collected by the club’s own mooring officer:
“Fees for mooring licences within a VCA are taken by the Voluntary Control Officer for that VCA. For all other moorings, the Port collects relevant fees. If a mooring holder is moored within a Voluntary Controlled Area and wishes to pay fees direct to the Port they should seek prior agreement with the Officer for that VCA.

“In much the same way that mooring licence fees are collected, Crown Estate charges for moorings within a VCA are collected by the Officer for that VCA. For all moorings outside of a VCA, the Port collects and administers Crown Estate charges. We are therefore unable to confirm how many boats within each VCA have paid Crown Estate charges.”

Recent inspections

The Harbourmaster confirmed that an inspection of Castle Pill moorings was carried out on 28 July, followed by a meeting with the club’s mooring officer on 7 August to discuss findings.
“These findings will be shared at a meeting with Castle Pill Boat Club committee members on 20 August,” he added.

Mr Ryan reiterated that the Port has “no oversight of any VCA/Boat Club finances” and “no authority to inspect or have oversight of the financial transparency or governance of any Voluntary Control Bodies.”

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

11 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

11 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

11 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.