News
Yerbeston man cleared of beating taxi driver, and refusing to pay
THE TRIAL of Lawrence James Goldsworthy from Yerbeston started with him wanting to revoke his early guilty pleas on Wednesday (Feb 11).
The 25-year-old told the court: “I believe that I am not guilty. I didn’t tell my solicitors how I was provoked.” He added: “I can give you a name of someone in prison that revoked his plea.”
The clerk to the justices told Goldsworthy that he had no power to re-open the cases, and the trial would go ahead.
The hearing at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court began by dealing with charges one and two out of five: The allegation that the defendant assaulted Stuart Jones and running off from a taxi without payment.
After solicitor for the defence Mike Kelleher heard that his client wanted to change his plea, told the court: “I don’t think I can continue to act for him. But if he wants to change his plea, clearly our instructions were that they were guilty pleas. I’m in an awkward position so I’m going to stand down.”
Even though Goldsworthy made an application for adjournment, Magistrates decided that the trial would continue. He then had to represent himself and cross examine the witness.
Prosecuting, Leslie Harbon told the court: “At 3am Goldsworthy was in Tenby looking for a taxi home. He was outside the Prince of Wales and asked Stuart Jones, the taxi driver, how much it would be to Preseli. They agreed on £25 and Goldsworthy jumped into the taxi. He then allegedly took out a £5 note and some change and asked if he could go and collect the money from his house. Upon arriving at his house, he told Jones that he was going to open the iron steel gate to his house. However, he jumped over the gate and began running down the lane. Jones followed in his taxi and was met by Goldsworthy who began attacking Jones and proceeded to smash his rear window.”
Jones was called down to the witness stand where he was examined by both the prosecutor and Goldsworthy.
Jones tells the court that they agreed on an amount, and upon reaching the gate and seeing Goldsworthy’s behaviour sat in the minibus thinking what he was doing. He drove down the lane and was faced with Goldsworthy and his vulgar language: “You’re on private property. I’m not f***ing paying you.”
Goldsworthy then pushed Jones with two hands on his chest. Jones told the court: “He tried to hit me but no punches actually hit me. As soon as he pushed me I got into the car.”
Goldsworthy then took the stand and began to cross examine Jones: “Did you threaten me on the way? Did you not call me a gypsy and say that my son was a gypsy? You were threatening to beat me up, and when I got out of the taxi I told you that I didn’t want you to come down the lane. How did you enter the property? You forcefully entered through the steel gate which was off its hinges. Did you force your way into the property with aggression?”
Jones answered; “No, I wouldn’t call it aggression.”
Jones denied touching Goldsworthy and told the court: “I didn’t touch you. I couldn’t understand what you were doing and next minute you’re running for leather down the road.”
Goldsworthy asked Jones: “You pursued me and that is why I picked up a stone because you were driving at 50 miles an hour down the lane trying to mow me down. You never gave me a chance to pay.”
After a brief period of adjournment, the Magistrates returned they told the court that there was no case to answer, clearing Goldsworthy of the two charges.
The defendants other three charges were adjourned March 4 in order for the probation services to prepare a report, he was released on the condition that he fully comply with the probation service. These charges were damaging Stewart Jones’ vehicle, running away from another taxi without paying and assaulting another officer.
Community
Mark Benevolent Fund award Pembrokeshire charity almost £6,700
THE Harriet Davis Trust is a charity that provides affordable holidays for severely disabled and terminally ill children and their families at four specially adapted properties (three in Tenby, one in Narberth).
The charity was formed in 1992 and named after Harriet, a little girl with a rare degenerative disease who was unable to speak and had lost her motor abilities. Her parents had brought her to Tenby for seaside holidays but found them extremely challenging due to the lack of suitable accommodation. Harriet had loved these holidays but sadly passed away aged eleven years. Her parents Kit and John Davis formed the charity in honour of their brave little girl. Kit is still a Trustee of the charity.
The properties offer a high level of equipment including therapy pool, mobile hoists, lifts, profile beds, specialist kitchens and bathrooms. In some of the gardens there is a ‘memory meadow’ to remember children that have passed away.
Trust Administrator Susie Shales said “We often welcome families with children that are profoundly disabled or have life-limiting illnesses who have never had a holiday due to their restricted financial circumstances, and others who only have a few weeks or months left with their loved one and are desperate to make their final memories together”.
Like most charities, the Trust had a difficult time during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, and more recently have been faced with costly but essential structural repairs to two of the properties. As there was a desperate need to replace and improve some of their equipment, Susie wrote to Steve Thurgood, who is the Charity Steward for the Mark Masons of Dyfed, to ask if any financial assistance could be offered. The Dyfed Mark Masons belong to an order of Freemasonry and meet in lodges across West Wales.
Almost £6,700 was required to buy specialised profile mattresses for all of the properties to replace the current 10 years old stock, plus two Careflex chairs which allow disabled guests to be hoisted into the chair, giving welcome relief from being constantly in their wheelchair.
As the amount requested was substantial, Steve approached the Charity Manager of the Mark Benevolent Fund (M.B.F.) based in London which is the central UK charitable fund for the Mark Masons.
Steve was advised to instruct Susie to submit a detailed application to the M.B.F for their consideration, and much to the delight of Steve and the Harriet Davis Trust team, the application was approved within a week of submission!
It was duly arranged for two M.B.F. Trustees to travel to the Ivy Bush hotel in Carmarthen and join the Provincial Grand Master of the Mark Province of Dyfed, Gary Hicks and members of his team in presenting representatives of the Harriet Davis Trust with a ‘big cheque’.
Trust manager Carol Lincoln and Administrator Susie Shales attended, and Carol gave a slideshow presentation on the work of the Trust and spoke passionately about the difficulties facing parents of disabled and sick children, and the relief and enjoyment the seaside holidays provide. She expressed her deep gratitude to the M.B.F. for their compassion and for the speed of their generous assistance.
Correspondingly, the M.B.F. Trustees Derek Thomas and David Powell eloquently explained the purpose of the M.B.F, the wide range of charities they support, and the criteria for a successful application. Gary Hicks expressed his thanks to Derek and David for making the long drive to Carmarthen, and for adding so much to the presentation. He also thanked the many Dyfed Mark members who had come from various parts of West Wales to support him on this special and rare occasion. Coffee and a light lunch was provided for all and a very pleasant afternoon it was!.
Pictured above : L to R: M.B.F. Trustee Derek Thomas, Trust Manager Carol Lincoln, Dyfed Provincial Grand Charity Steward Steve Thurgood, Dyfed Provincial Grand Master Gary Hicks, Trust Administrator Susie Shales and M.B.F. Trustee David Powell
Community
Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir welcomes new vicar to Monkton
WELSH voices welcomed the newly installed Vicar of Monkton, the Rev Heidi de Gruchy, in her first week in her new church.
Rev Heidi in turn welcomed Pembroke and District Male Voice choristers to Monkton Priory last month which, with its superb acoustics, is a favourite venue for the choir.
Also Vicar of Pembroke and Lamphey, Rev Heidi was joined by her husband, the Rev William Lambert, and a large congregation who showed warm appreciation for the programme choices of Musical Director Juliet Rossiter, which included the stirring Morte Christe and
Gwadhoddiad.
Soloist was first tenor Peter Halifax, accompanying himself on guitar. He sang four pieces including, for the first time, ‘Working Man’.
MC Matthew John always promotes the choir and his invitation to male members of the congregation to join in the finale fell on receptive ears.
Four joined in for ‘American Trilogy’, including Rev William and Matthew’s father, Steve John.
There were special thanks for guest accompanist Peter Griffiths who has helped out at several concerts and practices while the choir seeks a permanent replacement. Peter is the accompanist for Haverfordwest Male Voice.
At the start of the evening Ed Morris, of the first bass section, presented a cheque to choir chairman Huw Morgan from the Pembroke Farmers’
Club, following on the choir’s recent very successful concert at Lamphey.
Earlier in the month the choir returned to St John’s Church, Tenby – one of two visits made there every year.
The choir’s next concert is for Remembrance, on Friday November 1 st at Pembroke Town Hall. In the interim it is hoped that a new accompanist will be appointed.
News
Pembrokeshire County Council approves Celtic Freeport full business case
PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL says it has taken a key step toward securing a stronger economic future for the county with the approval of the Celtic Freeport full business case last week (Oct 3).
The Freeport represents a new opportunity to help Wales continue to develop a globally competitive, inclusive and sustainable economy.
Deputy Leader Cllr Paul Miller, cabinet member for Place, the Region and Climate Change, said: “This is a tremendously exciting period for the Haven waterway and for Pembrokeshire as a whole.
“We couldn’t be more closely aligned with the aspirations of UK and Welsh Government in terms of energy transition and our role is to ensure we create the right conditions for investment and growth both here in Pembrokeshire and across the South West Wales region.
“The scale of the opportunity ahead for the Milford Haven Waterway and for Pembrokeshire is enormous and we are determined to ensure we maximise the opportunity this coming energy revolution offers to grow the Pembrokeshire economy, to secure investment and to create and sustain good jobs.
“The energy industry is, and has been, a key component of the Pembrokeshire economy since the 1950s. The arrival of the hydrocarbon business to the Milford Haven waterway transformed the county and it’s prosperity. That industry continues to be the primary economic force in Pembrokeshire but it’s also not the force it once was – with the loss of four refineries.
“Therefore, we need to look to the future, to look for opportunity and right now, we’re on the cusp of another opportunity with the potential to be every bit as transformational as those investments in the 50s.
“This opportunity revolves around future clean, green, renewable energy and in particular the potential for Pembrokeshire to play a key role in the exploitation of wind energy through the design, fabrication, operation and maintenance of floating off-shore wind turbines – and also green hydrogen.”
For more information on the Celtic Freeport visit the website.
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