Police expand searches across riverbank and woodland as public urged to come forward with information

DYFED-POWYS POLICE say their search for a man wanted in connection with an attempted murder in Carmarthen Park is continuing.

Officers have been carrying out extensive enquiries since Thursday afternoon (4:00pm) when a woman was attacked inside the park.

The 57-year-old suspect, James McKenna, remains outstanding.

He is described as white, British, around five foot seven inches tall, bald with white facial hair. At the time of the incident, he is believed to have been wearing a green coat and a blue beanie hat.

Police were called just after 4:00pm following reports a woman had been injured inside the park. She managed to escape through the Picton Terrace entrance and raise the alarm.

Officers attended alongside colleagues from the Welsh Ambulance Service. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment to stab wounds and is expected to make a full recovery.

Since then, specialist teams have carried out forensic examinations and systematic searches of the park, nearby allotments, woodland, wetlands and the River Towy riverbank.

Dog handlers, drone pilots and police search advisers have been involved in the operation.

A knife believed to have been used in the attack, along with a rucksack, has been recovered.

Detectives are also carrying out digital and financial enquiries and have contacted local transport providers to determine whether the suspect attempted to leave the area.

Detective Chief Superintendent Ross Evans said officers had worked continuously over the weekend.

He said: “We are doing all we can to locate James McKenna. Our searches have expanded to cover large wooded areas and places he is known to frequent.

“At this time, we do not believe he has left the area using transport, but we urge anyone with information to get in touch immediately.

“Despite the seriousness of the attack, the victim is expected to make a full recovery. We are supporting her and her family.

“We thank the community for their cooperation while our work continues.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police online, by calling 101, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Calls grow for Welsh Government to match support offered to English venues

THE WELSH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS have urged the Welsh Government to review its business rates policy, warning that scaling back support for pubs and hospitality risks further closures across towns and villages.

Party leader Jane Dodds, who represents Mid and West Wales in the Senedd Cymru, said ministers should act quickly to protect local venues after additional support for pubs and music venues was announced for England by the UK Government.

The measures announced by the Chancellor do not automatically apply in Wales, leaving uncertainty over whether similar help will be introduced here.

Hospitality businesses across Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire have already reported rising energy bills, higher wage costs and reduced footfall since the pandemic. From April, current business rates relief is expected to be reduced, a move the Liberal Democrats say could place Welsh firms at a disadvantage compared with competitors over the border.

Dodds said that pubs, cafés and restaurants form “the heart of our communities” and warned that withdrawing relief now would be “a serious mistake”.

She told the Senedd that support “cannot stop at pubs alone” and should extend to the wider hospitality sector, including restaurants and family venues that rely heavily on seasonal trade and tourism.

“When questioned, the First Minister said she needed to examine the details of the English package before committing to anything similar for Wales,” Dodds said. “Without urgent action, we risk losing viable, well-loved businesses that communities simply cannot afford to lose.”

The party is also calling for UK-wide action, including a temporary reduction in VAT for hospitality and tourism, funded by a windfall tax on large banks.

However, Welsh Government sources have previously argued that decisions on rates relief must be balanced against pressures on public finances, with ministers required to prioritise health, education and other frontline services within a fixed budget. They have said any additional support would need to be affordable and targeted.

Industry bodies have echoed concerns about the challenges facing the sector. Trade groups say many independent pubs and cafés continue to operate on tight margins, particularly in rural areas where they serve as community hubs as well as businesses.

Local operators say clarity is now key, with decisions on staffing, stock and opening hours often planned months in advance.

With the next financial year approaching, hospitality owners will be watching closely to see whether Wales mirrors England’s support – or leaves businesses to absorb the extra costs alone.

Woman handed suspended sentence after sending photos of primary school child to known paedophile she was “in a relationship” with

A WELSH mother has avoided immediate prison after admitting she sent indecent photographs of her young daughter to a convicted paedophile she described as being “in a relationship” with.

The woman, aged in her 30s, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court after pleading guilty to making and distributing an indecent image of a child.

The case emerged when West Mercia Police recovered images from a known sex offender’s device during an unrelated investigation. Officers identified that several of the images had been sent by the child’s mother and passed the intelligence to South Wales Police.

Eight photographs of the primary school-aged girl had been shared. One image, described in court as Category C, showed the child half-naked on a sofa.

When officers arrived at the family home to arrest her, the defendant was overheard telling her children: “Mummy has been in conversation with a silly man who had got her into trouble.”

During interview, the court heard she struggled to explain her behaviour. She told police her relationship with her partner at the time had broken down and she had felt “lost”, adding that she had “enjoyed the attention” from the man.

Sentencing, His Honour Paul Thomas KC described the offending as a “terrible breach of trust”.

He said sending such an image to a man she knew was a paedophile who wanted it for sexual gratification was “wholly beyond most people’s comprehension”.

The judge added it was fortunate her “pandering” to the offender had been uncovered before matters escalated further.

While acknowledging that any punishment would “pale into insignificance” compared with the lifelong consequences for the family, he said the offence crossed a serious threshold.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons in order to protect the identity of her daughter, has no previous convictions. The court was told her children are no longer in her care.

Defence counsel said she had been tearful and remorseful, telling solicitors she had “ruined her life”. A psychiatric assessment diagnosed her with complex post-traumatic stress disorder.

She was handed a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

The court also imposed:

– 150 hours of unpaid work
– Completion of a rehabilitation programme
– Registration as a sex offender for ten years
– A Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years

Child protection specialists say the case underlines the risks of online relationships and the importance of reporting concerns early, particularly where vulnerable adults may be targeted by known offenders.

If you are worried about a child’s safety, contact police on 101 or report concerns anonymously via Crimestoppers.