News
Haverfordwest: Hundreds expected at latest sixth form protest
HUNDREDS of pupils from Tasker Milward School and Sir Thomas Picton School are expected at a protest at County Hall, Haverfordwest tomorrow morning (Apr 14) as councillors meet to decide the fate of school sixth forms in the north of Pembrokehire.
Labour leader Cllr Paul Miller has called for the extraordinary meeting which will take place at 10am. Protestors will be gathering from 8am, the Herald understands.
Last month, Cllr Miller told The Herald: “We all voted for the proposals to go to consultation. However, since then it has been obvious to me from the public meetings I’ve attended in St Davids and Haverfordwest, that the proposals are so unpopular that any real consultation is only going to reject them fully, wasting time and money. Therefore, these proposals need to come back tocouncil and be rethought. We need to understand what the options are for maintaining school based sixth forms and we need to have a frank, open and honest discussion and debate with parents, pupils and the schools.”
The councillor, who is standing for parliament in the May General Election, added: “I am under no illusion that there needs to be change – standards in Pembrokeshire must improve. However, an outpouring such as this cannot be ignored and so today, we have a chance to think again and get it right.”
Stephen Crabb, who is also standing for parliament in May, and Paul Davies AM attended a meeting of the joint governor’s committee held at Tasker Milward School on April 7 to hear the opinions of the people of Haverfordwest faced with losing Sixth Form choice from their schools.
Governors, parents, pupils and those from the wider community attended the non-political event where Sixth Form choice was the only topic of discussion.
The Preseli Pembrokeshire MP heard from STP sixth former Corey Jenkins, and year 9 pupil Ben Richards, as well as a number of former pupils, all of whom highlighted the positive impact that sixth form education had on their lives.
Former Pembrokeshire College lecturers and current teachers also gave their views about why a choice on A-level provision was important for the future generations of Pembrokeshire children.
Mr Crabb and Mr Davies added their personal support for the retention of a sixth form in school. Mr Davies was asked to ascertain whether any judicial reviews have taken place on this matter anywhere else in Wales.
A petition of names collected during the first public meeting on March 2 was handed over to Jade Hughes and other pupils of Tasker Milward 6th Form to add to those collected by the extensive petitioning efforts of pupils from both schools.
A ‘Hackathon’ event arranged by Cllr Miller took place on Friday, April 19 at Haverfordwest Leisure Centre. This was a further opportunity for the public to engage in shaping the education of young people in Pembrokeshire.
Crime
Court hears man exposed his flaccid manhood ‘by accident’
A 21-YEAR-OLD Pembrokeshire man has appeared before magistrates charged with intentionally exposing his genitals in a public place.
Thomas Jones is accused of carrying out the act at a property in New Moat, Clarbeston Road, on November 9, 2022.
“The defendant knocked on the door of a female and offered his gardening services,” Crown prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
“She accepted his offer and moved her car so that he could move his van, but when she turned around, she could see his flaccid penis was outside his trousers. When she pointed this out to him, he said he didn’t know that it was exposed.”
Jones denies the charge. He was released on unconditional bail to await his trial at Haverfordwest magistrates court on January 6.
Crime
Regular cocaine user from Milford Haven taken off the road
A MILFORD HAVEN resident who admits to being a regular cocaine user has lost his driving licence after being found behind the wheel when he was 15 times over the legal Benzoylecgonine limit.
Teifion Morse, 41, was stopped by officers just before midnight on May 1 following reports that he was driving his Vauxhall Insignia along the A477 at excessive speeds.
“The vehicle was travelling westwards towards Kilgetty, and Teifion Morse was the driver and the sole occupant, “ Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
A roadside drugs wipe proved positive while further blood tests carried out at the police custody suite showed that Morse had 800 mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system (the legal limit is 50), and 20 mcg of cocaine. The legal limit is 10.
Ms James said that when Morse was spoken to by officers, he told them that he knew the readings would be positive. “I’ve done stupid amounts today,” he said.
Morse, of Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to two charges of drug driving. A probation report stated that since leaving the military five and a half years ago, Morse has suffered from mental health issues.
He’s been using cocaine as a coping mechanism,” said the probation officer. “He freely admits that he uses cocaine to help him cope, but it’s spiralled and is getting more and more out of control. He would like support to kick this habit.”
Morse chose to be legally unrepresented when he appeared before magistrates.
“It was my stupid fault and I’m trying to take the correct steps to get on the right path,” he said in mitigation.
Morse was sentenced to an 18-month community order during which he must carry out 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work. He was disqualified from driving for 15 months and must pay a £140 court surcharge and £85 costs.
News
Haverfordwest motorist ‘was well and truly over the limit’
A MOTORIST , described by the Crown Prosecution as being ‘well and truly over the limit’, has been banned from driving by Haverfordwest magistrates.
Police were called to the County Hall car park, Haverfordwest just before midnight on Hallowe’en following reports of the way in which an Alfa Romeo was being driven along Old Hakin Road.
When officers arrived, they discovered Ashley Horrocks, 32, behind the wheel.
“When officers spoke to him, he was displaying the demeanour of someone who was intoxicated,” said Crown Prosecutor Nia James.
A roadside breath test was positive and subsequent breath tests carried out at the police station showed that Horrocks had 78 mcg of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35.
“He was well and truly over the limit,” added Ms James.
Horrocks, of Rack Hill Terrace, Hawthorn Rise, Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to the drink-drive charge. He was legally represented by Mr Michael Kelleher.
“It was an incredibly stupid decision on his part to drive, but he hasn’t drunk any alcohol since,” he said.
Horrocks was fined £250 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £100 surcharge. He was disqualified from driving for 20 months.
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