Police and HSE continue joint investigation

POLICE have confirmed that enquiries are continuing into the death of a woman who was fatally injured while helping to move a motorhome outside her home in Begelly last month.

Carolyn Joyce Codd, aged 79, of Church Close, Begelly, died on October 28 after she was crushed by a motorhome on the driveway of her home.

Emergency services were called to the scene, but Mrs Codd was pronounced dead shortly after 2:00pm.

The case came before Pembrokeshire Coroner Gareth Lewis on Thursday (Nov 13) for the formal opening of an inquest, held via Teams.
The hearing was adjourned while police and the Health and Safety Executive continue a joint investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

The coroner ordered that witness statements and a full post-mortem report be submitted by February 12, when the case will be reviewed again.

Mr Lewis extended his condolences to Mrs Codd’s family and friends at the brief hearing.

Pair from Worcestershire targeted tradesmen across Carmarthenshire and beyond

TWO men who travelled from Worcestershire to raid work vans west Wales have been sentenced after stealing thousands of pounds worth of tools from local tradesmen.

Aston Amos, aged 35, and 27-year-old Robbie Bate, both from Bewdley, made late-night trips through Powys and Carmarthenshire during July, breaking into vehicles in Builth Wells, Brecon and Newcastle Emlyn. Tools worth around £13,000 were taken over two separate nights of offending.

Dyfed-Powys Police launched an investigation following multiple reports of vans being forced open. Officers reviewing CCTV footage identified a black Audi A4 travelling repeatedly between Wales and the West Midlands.

Enquiries later revealed the car had been linked to a booking at a hotel in St Clears, and that both men’s phones had travelled the same route. Amos, who was already subject to a court-imposed GPS ankle tag, was found to have been at the scene of the thefts when the offences took place.

When police searched the Woodman Caravan Park near Bewdley on 9 August, they discovered the Audi and a cache of stolen tools. Both men were arrested soon after.

At Swansea Crown Court, the pair admitted five counts of theft. Amos has 15 previous convictions for 24 offences, including vehicle theft and handling stolen goods. Bate has eight previous convictions for mainly motoring offences.

Judge condemns ‘cruel’ crimes

Judge Geraint Walters said the men had deliberately targeted tradespeople who depended on their tools for their livelihoods. He described the thefts as “organised and deliberate”, adding that taking away a worker’s tools was “one of the cruellest things imaginable”.

Defence lawyers said Amos had been battling drug and alcohol problems and was now sober in custody. Bate, who helps to care for his three-year-old son, expressed remorse and said he wanted to start a gardening business.

Amos was jailed for nine months, to run consecutively to an existing sentence for wounding. Bate received a nine-month suspended sentence, 160 hours of unpaid work, a 12-week curfew, and must complete rehabilitation sessions.

The judge warned Bate that if he breached the order, “you’ll be coming back to Swansea — and you won’t be going home.”

Several cases formally opened before Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire coroners

A SERIES of inquests have been opened and adjourned by the Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire coroners this month, including the death of a Begelly woman who was fatally injured in a tragic accident at her home.

The inquest into the death of Carolyn Joyce Codd, aged 79, of 7 Church Close, Begelly, was opened by Pembrokeshire Coroner Gareth Lewis on Thursday (Nov 13).
Mrs Codd, a retired farmer’s wife, died on October 28 after she was crushed by a motorhome while helping her husband manoeuvre the vehicle on their driveway. Police and paramedics attended, but she was pronounced dead at 2:13pm that day.
The hearing, held via Teams, was adjourned while police and the Health and Safety Executive carry out a joint investigation. The coroner ordered witness statements and a full post-mortem report to be filed by February 12.

Also before the coroner this month:

• George Edward Chaloner, born 23 April 1992, of 23 Cartlett, Haverfordwest, whose case was listed at County Hall, Haverfordwest, on November 7 at noon.
• Peter William Clarke, born 16 April 1961, of Coal Pit Park Farm, Johnston, whose inquest was opened on November 13 via Teams.
• Charlotte Burston, born 3 August 1983, of Mountain View, Llanteg, whose final inquest is set for November 21 at County Hall, Haverfordwest.
• Philip Ratcliffe, born 20 July 1987, of New House Farm, Canaston Bridge, whose final pre-inquest review will be held on November 28 in Llanelli Town Hall.

Carmarthenshire cases listed for the same period include:

• Jamie-Lee Daniels, of Tumble (mention hearing).
• Leon David Arundel, aged 14, of Llangynog (opening hearing).
• Rachel Ann Reed, aged 19, of Llangennech (pre-inquest review).
• Naomi Tsui-Morris, aged 28, of Capel Dewi (pre-inquest review).
• Harrison Angell-Chapman, aged 14, of Ammanford (pre-inquest review).

Each inquest was either opened, mentioned, or reviewed remotely under the direction of the West Wales Coroner Service, which covers both Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. Full hearings will take place once the necessary evidence and reports are complete.