News

Watchdog scolds Welsh Government over ‘basic failings’ over Maritime Centre grant

Published

4 months ago

August 15, 2025

WALES’ Auditor General has criticised the Welsh Government over what he called “basic failings” in the handling of a £1.6 million grant for a proposed Maritime Centre in Porthcawl — a project that collapsed before completion.

Audit findings

Audit Wales said that between 2016 and 2017 the Welsh Government approved up to £2.7 million in potential funding — split between domestic funds and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grants — for the scheme run by Credu Charity Ltd.

By 2020, Credu had gone into voluntary liquidation and the project was abandoned, despite £1.6 million already being paid out. It is now considered unlikely that any of this money will be recovered.

Auditor General Adrian Crompton said there had been unclear accountability between the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) and Visit Wales, inadequate and late due diligence, and weak controls over expenditure claims. These weaknesses, he said, meant the project’s growing financial risks went unnoticed for too long.

Government response

Welsh Government officials have acknowledged the failings and say an internal review of the Tourism Attractor Destinations programme has led to stricter pre-payment checks, stronger due diligence, and improved monitoring of expenditure.

Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Energy and Planning, has formally written off the £1.64 million loss — made up of £929,380 in ERDF funds and £712,302 in domestic match funding. Remaining funds were redirected to a smaller scheme at the Cosy Corner site in Bridgend, which has since supported local start-ups.

Calls for accountability

Mr Crompton said that while risk is inherent in grant-funded initiatives, the vulnerabilities in government systems for supporting charities and private bodies remain relevant.

South Wales Central MS Andrew RT Davies, former leader of the Welsh Conservatives, criticised the record of the current administration, saying: “Every penny lost is money that could be supporting local communities… This Welsh Government has a significant track record of pouring money into projects that just don’t get off the ground, at significant cost to the public purse.”

Looking ahead

The report makes no formal recommendations, partly because the case predates Brexit and the funding landscape has since changed. However, it stresses the importance of robust governance to protect public money.

The Welsh Government says the measures now in place will help ensure stronger oversight and prevent similar losses in the future.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

9 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

9 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

10 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.