A MAN from Haverfordwest has been convicted of raping his sister when she was under the age of 16.

The offences took place between 31 July and 7 August 1988 at Castle Lake Car Park in the town, when the defendant was in his 20’s.

Following a trial at Swansea Crown Court, the man was found guilty on two counts: rape of a female under 16 and indecent assault on a girl under 16, both contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956.

The jury returned the verdicts after hearing evidence over several days, including the complainant’s account of the incident which happened nearly 38 years ago.

The case was reported to police in December 2023.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons to protect the identity of the complainant, will be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Monday, 23 March 2026.

This conviction highlights that reports of historic sexual offences continue to be thoroughly investigated and brought before the courts, no matter how much time has passed.

After the case the complainant said: “The day that I thought would never happen happened, something that I have carried with me for nearly 40 years has finally been heard.

“I seriously; can not explain how I feel right now, but a very heavy weight has finally been lifted.”

Anyone who has been affected by sexual abuse can contact the police on 101 or seek support through specialist services such as Rape Crisis or Victim Support.

Row intensifies over waiting times, A&E pressures and hospital service changes

THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have brought forward a Senedd debate this week calling for a national health emergency to be declared, as concerns grow over waiting times and pressure on NHS services in Wales.

Latest figures show around 580,000 patient pathways are currently waiting for treatment — equivalent to almost one in four people in Wales. More than 5,200 pathways have been waiting over two years to start treatment, compared with 223 in England.

Data also indicates a rise in the number of patients waiting more than twelve hours in emergency departments, alongside worsening ambulance response times for the most serious “Red” calls.

The motion, due to be debated on Wednesday (Feb 25), argues that NHS performance in Wales remains among the worst in the UK for waiting times and access to treatment, and calls for urgent system-wide action to restore performance and public confidence.

Proposals include reopening closed community hospital wards to improve patient flow, increasing bed capacity, expanding surgical hubs and diagnostic services, improving GP access, and establishing a dedicated NHS Wales recovery team.

The Welsh Conservative Shadow Health Secretary, Peter Fox MS said: “Labour’s health strategy is failing in real time — waiting lists are growing, emergency care is deteriorating, and patients are paying the price.

“After 27 years of Labour running the Welsh NHS, excuses are no longer good enough. The Welsh Conservatives have a clear plan to restore performance, cut waiting times and deliver the timely care people across Wales deserve.”

The Conservatives are also calling for the Welsh Government to end the use of corridor care and designate twelve-hour waits in emergency departments as “never events”.

The debate comes amid fresh controversy in west Wales following a decision by Hywel Dda University Health Board to remove emergency general surgery from Withybush Hospital as part of wider service changes. The move has prompted strong political reaction and renewed concerns about travel times and access to care for rural communities, although the Health Board says the changes are intended to improve safety and sustainability.

The Welsh Government has previously said NHS Wales is facing significant pressures following the pandemic, including workforce shortages and rising demand linked to an ageing population. Ministers say record levels of funding are being invested in health services and that reducing the longest waits remains a priority, although they acknowledge performance is not yet where they want it to be.

Health is expected to remain one of the central political battlegrounds ahead of the next Senedd election, with opposition parties increasingly critical of performance while ministers point to wider pressures affecting health systems across the UK.

The debate is expected to begin at around 4:30pm on Wednesday.

A NEW BBC documentary examining one of Pembrokeshire’s most disturbing crimes will be broadcast this week — and includes contributions from two journalists closely involved in reporting the case at the time.

The programme, The Truth About My Murder: A Killing in Lockdown, focuses on the killing of Judith Rhead by her son Dale Morgan at her Pembroke Dock flat during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Morgan was jailed for life in October 2021 after admitting murdering his 68-year-old mother, striking her repeatedly with a hammer before living in the property alongside her body for around two months.

The documentary explores the events leading up to the discovery of Judith’s body in February 2021, the subsequent police investigation, and the impact on her family and community.

It also features contributions from local journalists including Herald editor Tom Sinclair and his deputy Jon Coles, who both covered the case extensively during the investigation and court proceedings.

Judith Rhead, described by friends as sociable and caring, had worked as a social work assistant and carer. She was well known locally and enjoyed music and karaoke.

Concerns were raised when neighbours had not seen her for some time during lockdown. Morgan initially told people she was unwell and later claimed she had been admitted to hospital, prompting further checks.

Police eventually attended the flat on Saturday, February 20, 2021, where officers discovered her body inside the bedroom.

A post-mortem examination confirmed she had died from multiple head injuries consistent with a hammer attack. Evidence suggested she had been dead for several weeks before being found.

Morgan later handed himself in to police and admitted the killing. At Swansea Crown Court he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years and six months.

Sentencing him, the judge described the attack as savage and sustained against a defenceless woman.

Dyfed-Powys Police said procedures relating to welfare concerns have since been reviewed, with greater emphasis placed on face-to-face contact where vulnerability is suspected.

The Truth About My Murder: A Killing in Lockdown will be broadcast on BBC One Wales at 10:40pm on Tuesday (Feb 24), and is also available to watch on BBC iPlayer.