News

Youth went psycho on synthetic cocaine

Published

11 years ago

January 5, 2015

Tom Sinclair

Ethylphenidate: Now a class B drug.

A DANGEROUS legal high changed the behaviour of a youth in a Jekyll and Hyde case, which has highlighted the risks of using test chemicals to get high. On Tuesday (Dec 16), a Haverfordwest youth was sent to prison for twelve months after he pleaded guilty to a series of offences whilst ‘off his head’. The youth, who cannot be named because he is not yet eighteen, had, according to his solicitor, developed an addiction to a class B drug which had caused him to behave ‘in an appalling manner’. The drug in question, Ethylphenidate, is the same chemical which was being sold from Pembs PC in Haverfordwest by the now ex-boss Al Firth, and his partner in crime, Daniel Cobbinah. They will be sentenced on January 16.

Prosecuting this case, Ellie Morgan said: “This boy went to Wilkinson’s store and stole a bottle of aftershave. “Later, in the early hours of the next morning, he entered a woman’s property and stole various items of food from a freezer.” The prosecutor explained how in the early hours of October 18, the defendant was in his partner’s flat high on drugs, paranoid and hallucinating. Ms Morgan added: “The couple had an argument and she said she was going to throw the drugs away. She then went to bed, but at 12:45am he woke her and started shouting in a paranoid way. She came to the decision that she wanted to leave to go stay with a friend.

She picked up her stuff but he has said to her ‘you’re not taking it’.” The court heard how he then grabbed her bag and ripped it from her. The boy went crazy and hit her three times with the bag to her head. Ms Morgan then explained to the bench how the defendant “then went psycho at her and smacked her flat out to the left side of her face.” She added: “The victim looked at him and could see that his eyes were massive, red and looked evil. She ran out of the property and knocked on a neighbour’s door. The police were called. As a result of the attack she had bruising to her arms and face.”

But this was not the end of the matter. Later on, the youth entered the property through a small window, where he slashed clothes and damaged a washing machine and hoover. He also stole items. The overall cost of all the damaged and missing items, according to the CPS was around £1500.

The court heard the reason given for the behaviour by seventeen-yearold was “because you p****d me off, I was off my f*****g head on drugs.” The youth was arrested after a further incident at an address in Merlin’s Bridge. The court heard he tried to run away, and police used a Taser to apprehend him. After being stunned, he had a ‘seizure’ and was taken to Withybush Hospital – but he managed to escape from custody not once, but twice.

The CPS explained: “He was eventually caught and arrested for these matters on Wednesday, November 12”. Defending, James Subbiani said: “Unfortunately, in the last few months he has developed an addiction to this drug and it has caused him to behave in an appalling manner. This is not indicative of the person I have known for some time. The high, known as Ethylphenidate, is behind all of these offences. He has been stealing items to sell to fund his addiction.”

Mr Subbiani tried in vain to persuade the Magistrates against sending him to prison and instead give him a high level youth rehabilitation order. However, the bench did not agree and he was sentenced to four months for the assault, another four months for the burglary and a final four months for escaping custody. The chairman of the bench said: “Prison is the only option.”

News

South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association – Week Twelve results

Published

15 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Herald Sport

A PACKET week of fixtures in the South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association’s Friendly League saw key wins at both ends of the table as teams continue to jostle for position going into the second half of the season.

Match results (Week 12):

Hundleton 10–0 Lamphey
Badgers 2–8 St Johns
Reynalton 0–10 Carew
Kilgetty 8–2 East Williamston
Cosheston v Llanteg – postponed
St Twynnells – bye week

A previously postponed fixture was also completed, with St Twynnells drawing 5–5 with Reynaltón.

League table (after Week 12):
East Williamston remain top, having played 10 and won eight, with a strong shots difference of +125. Reynaltón sit second after 11 games with 58 points, while St Johns and Hundleton follow closely behind on 54 points each.

At the mid-table mark, Carew (49 points), St Twynnells (48) and Kilgetty (46) remain tightly grouped. Badgers, Lamphey, Llanteg and Cosheston make up the lower order, though the number of games played varies, leaving room for movement in the coming weeks.

Full standings:

Team	P	W	D	L	S/D	Points
East Williamston	10	8	0	2	+125	72
Reynaltón	11	5	2	4	+35	58
St Johns	10	5	1	4	+32	54
Hundleton	10	5	1	4	-2	54
Carew	9	5	0	4	-25	49
St Twynnells	10	4	2	4	-34	48
Kilgetty	11	5	0	6	-44	46
Badgers	11	3	1	7	-59	45
Lamphey	11	5	0	6	-10	44
Llanteg	8	4	0	4	-5	41
Cosheston	9	3	1	5	-13	40

If you’d like, I can also turn this into a shorter snippet for the website or expand with quotes, season context, or upcoming fixtures.

News

Search under way in Pembroke Dock for missing man Lee

Published

41 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Coastguard, RNLI and rescue helicopter launched as fears grow he entered the water

A MAJOR search and rescue operation is under way tonight (Sunday) in the Pembroke Dock and Pennar areas as emergency services look for 48-year-old Lee, who has been reported missing and is feared to have entered the water near the Pennar estuary.

Dyfed-Powys Police issued an urgent appeal earlier today after Lee, who is from Cardigan, failed to return home. He was last seen at around 5:00pm on Saturday (December 13) on CCTV in Pembroke Dock. The image shows him travelling on foot and carrying bags.

Lee is described as 5ft 10in tall, of medium build, with short light-brown hair and short facial hair. At the time he was wearing a blue/grey Christmas jumper, a red hat, dark trousers and light trainers. Police say he is also known to travel by train.

Concerns escalated this afternoon after officers received information suggesting Lee may have entered the water around the Pennar estuary.

HM Coastguard teams and the RNLI lifeboat from Angle have been searching the shoreline and waterway since mid-afternoon. A rescue helicopter from Cornwall (operating out of RAF St Mawgan/Cornwall Airport) is now assisting with aerial searches. The operation is ongoing in increasingly challenging conditions.

Search crews are dealing with cold, wet and windy weather, with conditions expected to worsen significantly overnight. An amber Met Office warning for heavy rain comes into force at 4:00am on Monday (15 December), with forecasters warning of fast-flowing floodwater and hazardous visibility across Pembrokeshire.

Police are urging anyone who may have seen Lee, or who has information that could help the search, to make contact immediately by calling phoning: 101. Quote reference: DP-20251214-176

News

Search under way in Pembroke as man reported missing

Published

1 hour ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Rescue teams battle worsening weather ahead of amber rain warning

A MULTI-AGENCY search and rescue operation is under way in the Pembroke area amid deteriorating weather conditions, after concerns were raised for the welfare of a man who is now considered missing.

HM Coastguard and the RNLI lifeboat are on scene, and a rescue helicopter from Cornwall — operating out of RAF St Mawgan/Cornwall Airport — has arrived to support the search, which is continuing in cold, wet and windy conditions.

The operation comes as an amber weather warning for heavy rain is due to take effect from 4:00am on Monday, December 15, with forecasters warning of hazardous conditions across Pembrokeshire.