Crime

Council distances itself from controversial grooming gangs abuse map

Published

5 months ago

August 28, 2025

Authority says it is not involved in MP Rupert Lowe’s privately-funded ‘Rape Gang Inquiry’

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has stressed it has had no involvement with the so-called “Rape Gang Inquiry” chaired by former Reform and now independent MP Rupert Lowe.

Earlier this month The Herald published the inquiry’s map, which has since been seen by more than 200,000 readers on Facebook. The map claims to highlight both historic and ongoing organised abuse across the UK, including in Pembrokeshire.

***Released UK abuse map: Rupert Lowe MP***

In a statement, the council said: “Pembrokeshire County Council has not had any involvement with, or contact from the privately-commissioned ‘Rape Gang Inquiry’ chaired by Rupert Lowe. The authority understands that this inquiry, which has not yet progressed, will be financed by crowd-funded public donations, and is entirely separate to the government-commissioned inquiry into grooming gangs, announced by the Prime Minister in June.

“Our understanding is that the map produced by the inquiry denotes both current and historical activity in relation to organised abuse. The authority would never comment on any ongoing child abuse investigation, and any such historical investigations will already be a matter of public record. Pembrokeshire County Council is committed to protecting children and will co-operate with any official inquiry held into child abuse of any description.”

The Rape Gang Inquiry, registered earlier this year as a community interest company, says it has submitted more than 9,000 Freedom of Information requests to local authorities, police forces and NHS trusts. According to its organisers, it has already identified 85 local authorities where gang-based exploitation “is taking place, or has historically done so.”

The project has proved hugely successful at raising money, attracting nearly 20,000 supporters and raising over £620,000 through crowdfunding. Organisers claim this makes it the largest political crowdfunder in British history.

Mr Lowe and his team have appointed campaigner Sammy Woodhouse as Victim Liaison Officer and say hearings will begin later this year, offering victims a chance to give testimony. Updates to supporters emphasise that the inquiry is focusing on what it describes as patterns of targeted exploitation by “predominantly Pakistani males” and failures by public bodies to act. It has also launched a petition calling for councils and police forces to publish full data on gang-based sexual exploitation, including ethnicity, immigration status and religion of offenders.

The Herald understands the map’s publication has triggered significant debate locally, with readers divided between those questioning its accuracy and those demanding greater transparency about historic abuse cases in Pembrokeshire.

Pembrokeshire has faced its own troubling history of child protection failures. In the early 1990s, what was then Britain’s largest child abuse trial took place in Pembroke, with six men jailed for conspiracy to abuse youngsters in barns and on beaches. Around the same time, on Caldey Island, Cistercian monk Father Thaddeus Kotik was abusing children over a period of decades, crimes only exposed years later after an independent review identified dozens of victims.

Concerns about safeguarding continued into the 2000s. In 2010, the Public Services Ombudsman found the county council had been “tardy” in protecting a young boy left with a convicted abuser, and in 2011 a Welsh Government inspection concluded there were systemic failures in the authority’s child protection arrangements. More recently, in 2024, former senior social worker Richard Ford was jailed for serious sexual offences against children, including the possession of hundreds of indecent images.

The Herald understands that the map shared by the inquiry has provoked widespread debate on social media, with some readers questioning its accuracy and others calling for greater transparency around historic cases.

Crime

Detectives appeal for information on 1979 unsolved murder

Published

3 hours ago

January 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SOUTH WALES POLICE is appealing for information about the unsolved murder of taxi driver John ‘Jack’ Armstrong more than 40 years ago.

Mr Armstrong was found murdered near Bridgend in October 1979 after he collected a customer from Cardiff in his taxi.

His death has been regularly reviewed by the South Wales Police Specialist Crime Review Unit and detectives are currently investigating his death.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Davies said: “We have been working on reviewing this unsolved murder for several years and the case has been the subject of media coverage and featured in a TV documentary series.

“Tragically, his daughter Jean, who featured in the TV documentary and expressed her hope that the killer would be found, passed away recently before she was able to see justice for her dad.”

On October 5, 1979, Jack, as he was known by family and friends, radioed in to confirm he’d collected the fare from a Fairwater pub, but was not heard from again.

His blood-stained taxi was found later that evening in Treoes Lane, Treoes, near to the Waterton Industrial Estate in Bridgend.

But it wasn’t until three days later that his body was found some 11 miles away on Cowbridge Common. Mr Armstrong had sustained catastrophic head injuries.

Despite extensive enquiries at the time, which saw hundreds of statements taken and exhibits examined, Mr Armstrong’s killer has never been found.

As part of the review, exhibits have been re-examined and witnesses have been spoken to in the hope that detectives will be able to identify and trace the killer.

DCI Davies added: “Despite the passage of time since Mr Armstrong’s death, we remain as committed as ever to bring justice for Jack and his family.

“If the killer is still alive then they are living with the knowledge of what they did for almost 47 years. I’d appeal to anyone who believes they know the identity of the killer to do the right thing and come forward.”

Anyone with any information which could assist detectives is urged to contact the Review Unit via 101, quoting occurrence 2000304349 or by using the Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) – https://mipp.police.uk/operation/62SWP20B17-PO1

Crime

Appeal due over dog forfeiture order as community raises concerns

Published

8 hours ago

January 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Case listed at Swansea Crown Court following magistrates’ ruling in December

AN APPEAL is due to be heard at Swansea Crown Court in a long-running case involving a Pembrokeshire woman and the forfeiture of dogs following enforcement action by the county council.

Julia Goodgame has appealed against forfeiture orders made by Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Dec 11), after being prosecuted by Pembrokeshire County Council in connection with breaches of a Community Protection Notice.

The case is listed before the Crown Court for directions, with the appeal understood to relate specifically to the forfeiture orders imposed by magistrates. The council previously confirmed that four dogs were removed from the property and placed in an approved animal welfare centre following the court’s decision.

A spokesman for Pembrokeshire County Council said: “The defendant has appealed against the Forfeiture Orders which were made by Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on December 11th.

“Pembrokeshire County Council will respond in due course. As the case is ongoing it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”

The appeal comes amid renewed concern from residents in the Bryn-y-Derwydd area of Trefin, who say they feel frustrated by what they describe as a lack of effective enforcement while the legal process continues.

***There were protests in Trefin over her dogs in 2025***

Members of the local community allege that conditions linked to the property have deteriorated again, raising environmental health concerns. Residents claim the situation has had a wider impact on neighbouring homes, including reports of vermin and unpleasant odours, and say they feel their complaints are not being adequately addressed.

The Herald understands that council officers, including environmental health, are aware of the ongoing issues but are limited in what action can be taken while court proceedings remain live.

The Crown Court hearing is expected to clarify the scope of the appeal and set out how the matter will proceed. Further reporting restrictions may apply depending on the court’s directions.

This newspaper will continue to follow the case and report developments as they can be lawfully published.

Crime

West Wales teenager jailed for raping 12-year-old girl

Published

13 hours ago

January 21, 2026

Court Reporter

Jake Richards, 19, sentenced to three-and-a-half years in young offenders’ institution

A 19-year-old man from Garnswllt, Carmarthenshire, has been sentenced to three years and six months in a young offender institution after admitting to raping a 12-year-old girl.

Jake Richards pleaded guilty to the offence, which occurred when he was 17, following online contact with the victim via Snapchat that led to an in-person meeting. The victim courageously reported the incident to police in August 2024 after first confiding in a friend.

Details of the offence

The pair had arranged to meet, and the victim believed they were simply going to talk. They walked to a secluded tunnel, where Richards initiated sexual activity despite the victim’s repeated verbal refusals and pleas for him to stop. He continued regardless.

A thorough investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police, involving forensic analysis (including DNA evidence) and digital enquiries (such as Snapchat records), built a strong case. This evidence contributed to Richards’ early guilty plea at Swansea Crown Court, sparing the victim the further distress of a full trial.

On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Richards was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court.

Police commend victim’s bravery

Detective Sergeant Carl Pocock of Dyfed-Powys Police praised the victim’s extraordinary courage: “First and foremost, I want to commend the victim—who was just 12 years old at the time—for her immense bravery in coming forward and cooperating fully throughout the investigation.

“Rape and sexual abuse are incredibly difficult topics to discuss, especially for someone so young facing an offender five years her senior. She clearly and repeatedly said ‘no’ and asked him to stop, yet he ignored her to satisfy his own desires.

“Her strength continued when she disclosed the abuse to a friend and then reported it to police, ensuring justice could be pursued. Our specialist team examined her account meticulously, using DNA and digital forensics to prove the case beyond doubt. This robust evidence led to the early guilty plea and avoided the added trauma of a trial.

“It is crucial to emphasise that a child of 12 cannot legally consent to any sexual activity. This case underscores the urgent need for open conversations with young people about online safety, the law on consent, and healthy relationships—including how to recognise and assert consent, never to assume it, and what to do if it is ignored or withdrawn.”

DS Pocock added that the case demonstrates Dyfed-Powys Police’s commitment to supporting and seeking justice for victims of sexual abuse, regardless of age.

Broader implications and prevention

Cases like this highlight the risks of online interactions transitioning to real-life meetings, particularly when significant age differences and power imbalances exist. Grooming or pressure can occur subtly via social media, making early education essential.

Parents, educators, and guardians are encouraged to discuss consent, boundaries, and digital safety proactively with teenagers. Reliable guidance includes resources from organisations like the NSPCC, which offers advice on talking to young people about healthy relationships, signs of unhealthy dynamics, and understanding consent (including that it must be freely given, informed, specific, and revocable).

Support available

Anyone affected by rape or sexual assault can access specialist help. New Pathways provides dedicated support services across Wales for victims dealing with the traumatic aftermath of such offences, including counselling and practical assistance. More details are available on their website.

If you or someone you know needs immediate help, contact police on 101 (or 999 in emergencies), or reach out to support organisations directly.

This sentencing serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of sexual offending and the priority given to victim protection in the justice system.