News

Thief wanted a ‘good Christmas’ for family

Published

10 years ago

February 5, 2015

A SUSPENDED prison sentence of two years was handed to a man who stole a number of items so that his family could have a good Christmas.

Andrew Broadhurst, aged 49, of Holloway Court, pleaded guilty to three charges of theft and another of possession of Cannabis.

Broadhurst will also be supervised for the next two years and he must also complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

The court heard how that he has got into financial difficulties with his business and on these occasions he panicked and took the items.

Prosecuting, Nick Newton said: “On December 18 2014, the defendant entered the TK Maxx store with a trolley and he filled that with high-value items. The value of the trolley was £909.80. He pushed the trolley out of the store with no intention of paying. A member of staff caught up with him but Broadhurst ran away leaving the trolley behind. Later that day, he entered the Co-op store in Pembroke and picked up a Toshiba TV which has a value of £179.99. He again walked out without paying which set off the alarms and it is said that he waved at the shop assistant before walking off. The TV has not been recovered. On December 24, 2014, the defendant has entered the Co-op store in Narberth and has filled a trolley with various goods. He again walked out of the store with no intent to pay for the items.

“The police were called and he told them that he had to move his car as he was parked on double yellow lines. However, he got into his car and drove away. The value of goods in the trolley was £745.97 which included groceries and a large amount of alcohol. When he was eventually arrested police also found him to be in possession of cannabis. He fully admitted all offences in his interviews and he does have previous convictions for shoplifting.”

Defending, Mark Layton told the court: “The TV cost £179.99 and he is quite willing to pay that sum but in this case I would ask for a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the Probation service.”

Probation officer Mr Jenkins said: “He is under no illusions about the gravity of these offences. He was very co-operative with me but also very emotional. He tells me that poor accounting of his business has got him into debt and bailiffs are being instructed to come in and remove property. On these occasions he panicked and has looked to solutions that are expedient. He went into the shops and stole the items as he wanted to have a good Christmas. Some of the items he intended to sell on to get rid of his debts. He knew that the bigger stores could suffer the loss and he didn’t want to harm any individual. He is grateful that most of the stuff he took has been recovered. It is a great shame for him that what he has done, in wanting to provide a good Christmas for his family, has made everything worse.”

As well as the suspended sentence 18 weeks for each offence were added which will all run concurrently with the sentence.

Broadhusrt was ordered to pay £179.99 in compensation, £85 in court costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

5 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

12 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

13 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.