News

Badger goes to the farm

Published

10 years ago

February 26, 2015

HELLO READERS! WELL, just when you thought that the aff airs of Pembrokeshire County Council could not slip any deeper into the realms of Whitehall farce (keep your trousers on, Huw!), we had the fi nal act in the saga of ‘A Funny Th ing Happened on the Way to the Dole Queue’, which Badger can only describe as not only being beyond parody but almost beyond belief. Back when Badger wrote his last column, our hero – Bryn Parry-Jones – was on his way out of County Hall, borne aloft on the narrow shoulders of the IPPG along a path strewn with palm fronds and rose petals, while Unison members sobbed with laughter. And then there was a surprise last minute twist of the type beloved by fi lm directors like Alfred Hitchcock, David Fincher and Peter Rogers (the last being an auteur of the genre, being behind classic crime thrillers like Carry on Constable).

Rather like Banquo’s ghost rocking up at the feast, the Auditor made an appearance and threw over the council’s ‘best off er’ possible deal. Now, readers, to understand this you have to ask yourself a very straightforward question based upon events at County Hall over the last calendar year. Let us swift ly recap the situation, readers: • In September 2013, this newspaper exposed the fact that Bryn Parry- Jones had entered into a scheme designed to help him avoid tax on his seven-fi gure pension pot.

Instead, Mr Parry-Jones would receive the grossed up equivalents of the council’s contribution to his pot for him to invest as he wished for his retirement. • In January, the Assistant Auditor for Wales ruled that the payments handed to Bryn Parry-Jones in lieu of pension contributions were unlawful.

• In February, the council held an extraordinary meeting at which the council agreed to stop making the payments. • In May the Chief Executive was invited to repay the pay supplements.

• In July, the Chief Executive said, through his representatives, that not only would he not pay back the money he had received but that he was considering his position about suing the council to make it continue the unlawful payments.

• In August, the Chief Executive took a ‘period of absence’ aft er this paper revealed how he subjected two councillors to a tirade of abuse for not voting in accordance with his wishes and interests in relation to his repayment of the unlawful payments. • On October 16, the council agreed a £330K settlement package. Crucially, that settlement package included compensating the Chief Executive in respect of the unlawful payments he had not received since February and the unlawful payments were taken into account when calculating other elements of the compensation package. Several councillors parroted the view that, while it was a lot of money, the £330K was a triumph for tough negotiating and was the best the council could do.

• Last Tuesday, the Assistant Auditor for Wales stepped in and pointed out the logical fl aw in Baldrick Adams’ cunning plan. Can you guess what the Wales Audit Offi ce thought of compensating an offi cer for unlawful payments made to him? I bet you can, readers! But, apparently, the assembled brainpower of the council, its own legal team and their external advisors had not considered the Auditor might look askance at the prospect. For a few desperate hours, the carefully laid plans of mice and men (well, readers, certainly those of rodents) lay in tatters all about them. Contrary to the spin the council tried to put on events, this was not a case of dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s to the Auditor’s satisfaction. Th e Auditor made it clear that there was no agreement between him and the council to sign off on a deal which contained elements he had earlier this year ruled unlawful.

Drawing a comparison with modes of travel: it appeared as though that the council was in a small canoe on a well known brown and smelly waterway without a means of propulsion. Several issues arose: if the agreement was not signed, would Bryn return? Put another way: How could Bryn return when the leader of council, in an earlier interview, had related how much better things were now he had gone? More to the point, would the council need to call councillors together to vote on any revised deal? (Almost certainly) And what were then the risks of no deal being approved? Would the council allow the Investigatory Committee to meet and to potentially suspend Bryn to avoid him appearing at County Hall on Monday (Nov 3), like a cross between last night’s dodgy curry and Fu Manchu? But a deal was announced on Friday (Oct 31).

The council had appeased the Auditor by shaving the unlawful elements out of the deal. Bryn had taken a hit of £52K and would now receive a paltry £280K for piloting the council to public ignominy and to levels of ridicule that s u c c e e d e d in giving the impression that the council were to government what Laurel and Hardy were to piano moving. Now, readers, Badger has it from an impeccable source that his Royal Bryness’ opening gambit in negotiations was for a settlement around £550K in value. In the end, he has copped just over half that fi gure. And here, readers, here is the big question that arises from all of this?

If – on short notice – the former CEO of our council was prepared to shed over £50K from his pay off , what confi dence can we have that this was best settlement possible? Because the fact Bryn accepted over £50K less than the council agreed on October 16 suggests that, unless the council put another sweetener on the table to sugar taking £50K off the settlement, the £330K plus deal agreed originally was signifi cantly more than he would have settled for. The question for the thinking councillor is not whether or not they should have had the chance to scrutinise the lower deal, but rather whether they can have any faith whatsoever in the bland and blithe assurances of the council’s leadership that everything necessarily is as they are being told.

It is remarkable, readers, that a supposed group of independent councillors can come together – without whipping or direction – and as one not only back “the best deal possible” but churn out the same line of re-assuring drivel, self-justifi catory nonsense, and abuse of those who questioned whether £330K was the best deal possible. Pull the other one. It’s got bells on. No doubt another magnum opus from the council’s own Beria, former PC Rob Summons, is headed for the pages of another local newspaper explaining how – rather like the desperate propaganda put about by Squealer in Animal Farm – black is really white and that Boxer really was only taken to the hospital and not to the knacker’s yard. If Orwell shone the same light as on the Kremlin on the Cleddau, which animal would represent your councillor, readers?

Crime

Police issue warning following protests over baby abuse case

Published

8 hours ago

January 30, 2025

Tom Sinclair

POLICE have issued a warning after two nights of protests outside a property in Burton, where demonstrators gathered in response to a court decision granting bail to a man accused of serious child abuse offences.

Officers were called to the address at around 7:00pm on Tuesday (Jan 28) following reports of a crowd forming outside the property. A second gathering took place the following night (Jan 29), prompting further police presence.

During the second protest, officers arrested two men—one aged 47 on suspicion of affray and another aged 58 on suspicion of aggravated trespass. Both have since been released on bail with conditions while investigations continue.

Police confirmed that body-worn footage from both incidents is being reviewed, warning that any individuals found to have committed offences will face further action.

A spokesperson for the force said: “We will always seek to facilitate peaceful protest while balancing it with the rights of others, keeping the public safe, and preventing crime and disorder.

“We encourage anyone organising a protest to contact us so we can work together to ensure any demonstrations are conducted safely and with respect for the wider community.”

The demonstrations follow public outrage over the case of Christopher Phillips, 33, who has been charged with the sexual penetration of a seven-week-old baby, as well as assault, ill-treatment, neglect, and abandonment causing serious physical harm. His co-accused, Bryony O’Rourke, faces related charges of allowing a child to suffer serious harm.

On Friday (Jan 25), Phillips was re-granted bail, sparking fury among locals, with around 40 people gathering outside the Burton property on Tuesday to voice their anger. The Herald understands that police at the scene informed protesters that Phillips was not present at the address.

One demonstrator told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “We’re here for the baby. It’s not right that people accused of such horrific crimes are allowed to walk free in the community.”

While initial reports described the protest as peaceful, police have now intervened following the second night of demonstrations, urging the public to express their concerns through legal means and avoid any actions that could lead to criminal charges.

The investigation into the case is ongoing.

News

Fewer road casualties recorded in first year of Wales’ 20mph speed limit

Published

8 hours ago

January 30, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE FIRST year of Wales’ controversial 20mph speed limit saw around 100 fewer people killed or seriously injured on roads previously subject to 30mph restrictions, according to government figures.

New data on road casualties was cautiously welcomed by the Welsh Government, while former transport minister Lee Waters, who led the policy, described it as “the most successful road safety intervention in modern times.”

Statistics indicate that road casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads fell by 26% compared to the previous year, with ten fewer fatalities recorded. The period from July to September 2024 saw the lowest number of casualties on these roads since records began in 1979.

Policy controversy and review

The default speed limit on most urban roads was lowered from 30mph to 20mph on 17 September 2023, with certain exemptions in place. Introduced under former First Minister Mark Drakeford, the policy has been one of the most divisive initiatives since Welsh devolution, with nearly half a million people signing a petition demanding its repeal.

Public backlash prompted a review, and councils are now considering whether some roads should revert to 30mph. The Welsh Government has also commissioned a five-year study assessing the economic costs and benefits of the scheme, with findings expected in 2029.

Cautious optimism over casualty reduction

Government officials have urged caution in directly linking casualty reductions to the 20mph limit, noting that road collisions have been steadily declining over the past decade. The Welsh Government’s chief statistician has stated that at least three years of data are needed for a meaningful analysis of the policy’s long-term impact.

Figures released on Wednesday show that between July and September 2024, 410 road casualties were recorded on 20mph and 30mph roads. These included three fatalities, 90 serious injuries, and 317 minor injuries—a 35% reduction compared to the same period in 2023 and the lowest figures on record.

Over the full 12 months from October 2023 to September 2024, road casualties on these roads were 28% lower than the previous year.

Political reaction

Current Transport Secretary Ken Skates said the trend was “encouraging” and reiterated that the full effects of the policy would take time to assess.

“We know there is a way to go, and we’ve always said it will take a number of years to see the full impact of the policy,” he said. “But to see the figures for this quarter at their lowest level is positive.”

Former minister Lee Waters, now a Labour backbencher, told Herald.Wales: “We can now say with confidence that in its first year, the speed limit reduction represents the most successful road safety intervention in modern times.”

However, the policy has divided opinion both within the Labour Party and among the wider public. First Minister Eluned Morgan has acknowledged that there were issues with its implementation.

The Welsh Conservatives remain critical of the rollout. Shadow Transport Secretary Peter Fox said: “While we welcome any decrease in road casualties, these figures don’t tell the whole story. Our concern remains the way the 20mph speed limit has been implemented.

“The Welsh Labour Government’s default approach has created confusion and frustration for drivers. Their current review must address these implementation issues and ensure a more sensible and effective approach.”

News

Carmarthenshire man found guilty of murder of Sophie Evans, 30,

Published

9 hours ago

January 30, 2025

Court Reporter

A CARMARTHENSHIRE man has been convicted of murdering his son’s partner after falsely claiming she was scamming him out of his mother’s house deeds.

Richard Jones, 50, of Burry Port, was found guilty at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Jan 30) after a jury took less than three hours to reject his defence of diminished responsibility. He will be sentenced on Monday (Mar 3), when the court will determine the minimum term he must serve before being eligible for parole.

Harrowing details revealed

The court heard that Sophie Evans, 30, a mother of two, was found dead in her home on Bigyn Road, Llanelli, on Friday (Jul 5 2024). She had been strangled and left lying face down on the kitchen floor, covered only by a bath towel. A post-mortem confirmed she died from compression to the neck, with defensive wounds indicating she had fought for her life.

Jones, a regular visitor to Ms Evans’ home, was arrested later that day after making multiple calls and messages to family and friends. During police interviews, he admitted to killing her but claimed he had “lost his head” when she failed to acknowledge an alleged scam.

The jury was shown messages exchanged between Jones and his ex-partner, Tracey Thompson, in which he called his son, Jamie Davies, and Ms Evans “scamming thieves” and stated he had “taken care of the problem.”

Prosecution: ‘Callous indifference’

During the trial, consultant psychiatrist Dr Dilum Jayawickrama told the court that Jones was “100% certain in his beliefs” that he had been tricked into signing over his mother’s property. However, prosecutor Mike Jones argued that Jones “was not experiencing significant emotional distress” at the time of the killing and had shown “callous indifference” to his actions.

He highlighted Jones’ behaviour in the aftermath of the murder, including CCTV footage capturing him leaving the crime scene in a hurry before stopping at a bakery to buy food. Later, he returned home to Burry Port, where he was arrested.

‘Scumbag’ shouts in court

As Jones was led to the cells following the verdict, shouts of “scumbag” erupted from the public gallery. Jurors received applause from members of the public as they exited the courtroom.

Judge Geraint Walters told the court that the only sentence available for murder is life imprisonment. He will decide on Monday (Mar 3) the minimum number of years Jones must serve before being considered for release.

Until then, Jones remains in custody.

Speaking to The Herald after the case, Detective Superintendent Gareth Roberts, said: “The guilty verdict of the court is welcomed. Our thoughts at this time are with Sophie and the family and friends who loved her. Sophie was a young mother, beloved family member and friend. Richard Jones has been found guilty of what was a senseless, cowardly act triggered by anger and temper. Sophie was within her own home and not in a position to defend herself from Richard Jones’ cruel act of violence. The family will take some comfort that he’s now removed from society and cannot harm any others.”