News
Saundersfoot chef knocked woman unconscious
A SAUNDERSFOOT chef knocked a young woman unconscious after an incident on the dancefloor of a Carmarthen pub.
Henri Pritchard, who is currently living in Laugharne, fractured Briana Robinson’s cheek in the attack, outside the Spread Eagle in King Street .
Pritchard, aged 20, of Victoria Street, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.
Craig Jones, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court how a group of young woman had travelled from Cornwall to south Wales for a holiday and on January 30, 2014, found themselves inside the Spread Eagle.
Mr Jones said an incident took place on the dancefloor involving a friend of Miss Robinson’s and a friend of Pritchard’s.
The two men left the pub but Miss Robinson, aged 18 at the time and 19 now, followed and began remonstrating with Pritchard.
Mr Jones said Pritchard was by then extremely drunk and “made no sense” when he began telling Miss Robinson how much money he made and calling her a slut.
Miss Robinson pointed out that she had not met him before that evening.
She suddenly felt “a massive hit” to the side of her face and she fell down unconscious. She was taken to Morriston hospital, Swansea, and found to have suffered a fractured cheekbone, although it did not require surgery.
However, she suffered bruising that took two months to fade away, lost time off work and was now worried about going out at night.
Immediately afterwards, Pritchard threw a friend of Miss Robinson’s to the ground.
Security staff intervened and the police were soon on the scene, said Mr Jones.
After his arrest Pritchard told police he had been so drunk he could not remember attacking Miss Robinson.
His barrister, James Hartson, said he was deeply ashamed and it had taken a long time for him to accept what he had done.
Pritchard, he added, was due to become a father in June.
The Judge, Mr Recorder Ifan Wyn Lloyd Jones, said the assault was a serious example of ABH and Pritchard could have been charged with a more serious offence.
“She said later that it felt to her that her mouth was exploding,” he added.
Pritchard was jailed for six months, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work for the community.
He was also placed under a 9.30pm to 7am curfew and told to pay Miss Robinson £1,200 in compensation, plus a government surcharge.
Business
Stena announces redundancy plan amid uncertainty for Pembrokeshire
FREIGHT carrier and ferry operator Stena Line, which runs services between Fishguard and Pembroke Dock, has announced plans to cut up to 80 staff members following an internal review.
Uncertainty looms over whether any of these redundancies will impact staff operating our local ferry services.
Stena CEO Paul Grant shared the news in an email to employees on Monday, citing a need to “future proof the company.” He explained that an internal assessment revealed the company’s current organisational structure as “too big and expensive” compared to its revenue.
The decision comes amid rising costs and increased competition in the freight and travel sectors.
According to Mr. Grant, “Cost pressure due to higher inflation has led to our customers having less money to spend, and with the introduction of the European Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), increasing our prices, we see a decline in volumes for both travel and freight.” Additionally, disappointing sales during the summer season and unmet market growth expectations for 2024 contributed to the restructuring.
The program, designed to strengthen Stena’s long-term business viability, includes a reduction of costs, prioritization of investments, and staff cuts that will primarily impact support functions and consultants. The workforce will be reduced by 80 positions by early 2025, along with 30 consultants also set to leave the company. Discussions with unions and work councils are expected to last several months, with all affected staff to be informed of their status by January 31, 2025.
In response to this announcement, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) has demanded a meeting with Stena Line to clarify the impact of these cuts, particularly on their members.
TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust expressed disappointment over the handling of the announcement, stating: “Our members are shocked by this news and outraged that Stena has chosen to sidestep established industrial relations processes. Stena must meet with us urgently to clarify who is at risk and address the potential impacts on our members.”
The layoffs are part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at securing Stena Line’s future amid sustainability challenges. CEO Niclas Mårtensson acknowledged the difficult decision, stating, “Stena Line has been a successful company over the past few years; however, we need to ensure a lower cost base to be able to future proof the company. With 40 vessels in Europe and the Mediterranean, we have significant sustainability challenges ahead of us, and this program will enable us to make necessary investments for the future.”
The TSSA’s letter to Stena reiterates the union’s commitment to supporting affected employees and calls for an immediate discussion to clarify the situation, especially for staff at Fishguard who may be impacted.
News
UK government to appoint first Wales Crown Estate Commissioner
FOR the first time, the UK government will appoint a Crown Estate Commissioner dedicated to advising on matters in Wales, further integrating Welsh interests in board-level decisions. This move supports existing efforts to ensure that Wales benefits from the push for clean energy, following an agreement facilitated by the Welsh Secretary.
An amendment to the Crown Estate Bill, with cross-party backing from Labour, Plaid Cymru, Liberal Democrats, and crossbenchers, will be accepted at today’s Lords Report Stage (Nov 5). This change mandates the appointment of a Wales-specific Commissioner through the Public Appointments process, with input from the Welsh Government. The appointee will bear “an additional responsibility” to represent Welsh conditions and interests, amplifying Wales’s voice within the Crown Estate.
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens has collaborated with the Treasury, The Crown Estate, House of Lords members, and the Welsh Government to secure this legislative advancement. The Crown Estate, instrumental in drawing international investment to Wales, supports projects like Floating Offshore Wind in the Celtic Sea, which promises cleaner energy and job creation.
The introduction of a Wales-specific Commissioner strengthens The Crown Estate’s mission to serve the entire UK while averting potential market fragmentation and protecting international investor confidence critical to the net-zero transition.
In a related effort, Great British Energy, the government’s new public energy firm, recently partnered with The Crown Estate to expedite renewable energy advancements. This initiative could attract up to £60bn in private investment, boosting the UK’s journey toward energy independence.
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens stated: “This is a landmark step toward ensuring that Welsh prosperity is at the heart of the government’s mission to become a clean energy superpower. Our nation stands to benefit hugely from investment in floating offshore wind, and we now have the representation we need to help seize that moment. This demonstrates how Wales benefits directly from its two governments working together, and I’m grateful to Lord Livermore, The Crown Estate, and others for helping to make this happen.”
Sir Robin Budenberg CBE, Chair of The Crown Estate, said: “In seeking to increase the number of Commissioners from eight to twelve, The Crown Estate welcomes the opportunity now presented by this amendment to bring even more direct knowledge and understanding of the areas in which we operate and further strengthen our ability to deliver benefit to the whole of the UK.”
Crime
Arrests made after large-scale cannabis operation raided in Pembroke Dock
POLICE in Pembroke Dock have uncovered yet another large-scale cannabis operation, as part of an ongoing clampdown on illegal farms in the area. On Monday (Nov 4), Dyfed-Powys Police executed a search warrant at a property on Dimond Street, where officers found over 500 cannabis plants in a sophisticated cultivation setup.
Two men, aged 26 and 34, have been arrested in connection with the investigation and are currently in police custody. The raid follows a series of similar operations in Pembrokeshire, targeting properties used for illegal drug cultivation.
(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)
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gunga-din
February 15, 2015 at 9:06 am
and they wonder why we have no faith in our courts system = jailed for six months, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work = is not a fit punishment for this slimy toad and will serve as no deterrent to him doing likewise again – what we need to do is use the birch on scum like him that hits a young lass – in the town center sat noon pants down 25 strokes he would never attack a woman again and would make him think at least twice before going out
Billy can.
February 15, 2015 at 12:55 pm
Rather than strange corporal punishments, just jail him for a few months…in Russia!!!…why not call to account the trade in alcohol?….Who sold this man so much as to render him violent…is the only criteria of purchase to be standing up?..Why did the security staff not pay closer attention? etc etc…but there we are..next weekend, the clubs and pubs will no doubt see more fighting, vomit, wasted money, and wrecked lives, the hospital will see the casualties, the police and courts will censure…and the alcohol trade continues..happy daze.
John Rees
March 8, 2015 at 1:38 pm
Disgusting little worm should have had a custodial sentence.
Adam John
March 12, 2015 at 4:56 pm
….and a good beating.