News

Saville Roberts: Path to Welsh independence remains uncertain

Published

4 months ago

August 22, 2025

PLAID CYMRU’S Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts has said that while independence for Wales is the “next rational step,” the route towards it is far from defined.

Speaking during an interview in Wrexham, the Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP said a Plaid Cymru-led government in Cardiff Bay would offer the chance to begin a national conversation on independence. However, she admitted that the “stations of the cross are not clear yet” when it comes to setting out a timetable for a referendum.

Saville Roberts argued that the existing devolution settlement had failed to deliver the standard of public services that people in Wales deserve, particularly in health and education. She said that greater powers and resources were needed to demonstrate what a different constitutional model could mean for the country.

“The potential of independence has to be the next rational step,” she said, “but I couldn’t tell you a time frame.”

Her comments come ahead of the Senedd election in May 2026, with recent opinion polls suggesting Plaid Cymru and Reform UK are gaining traction among voters. Party leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has previously ruled out holding an independence referendum during the first term of any Plaid-led administration.

Saville Roberts insisted that the case for independence must be rooted in showing the public that Wales could achieve more if it had the necessary powers and funding. “In the end, it might be a slow process because it has to be chosen by the people of Wales, but as a party we will be walking towards independence,” she said.

Originally from south London, Saville Roberts became interested in Wales as a teenager after reading the Mabinogi. She studied Welsh and Irish at Aberystwyth University before working as a journalist, a councillor in Gwynedd, and later being elected to Parliament in 2015.

The MP also spoke about her famous cousin, the artist Jenny Saville, whose large-scale paintings have sold for millions worldwide. Although she admitted they had little contact growing up, she said she was “very proud to have that family connection.”

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

3 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

3 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

3 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.