News

Narberth: Child internet groomer sentenced

Published

9 years ago

September 25, 2015

swansea crown court

A NARBERTH man who contacted two 13 year old girls over the internet and asked them for sex has been sentenced today.

Adam John Davies, aged 20, of Tircoed Farm, Templeton, asked them to meet him at Whitland railway station.

But after initially agreeing to meet him they got cold feet and one of them contacted her teacher who called in the police.

Davies admitted two charges of attempting to arrange the commission of child sex offences.

Swansea Crown Court heard today that Davies was already serving a community based sentence for a public order offence after he repeatedly drove past a 13 year old girl and stopped his car and approached her.

Catherine Richards, prosecuting, said the internet offences took place over an eight day period.

Davies made contact with the girls, both from the Carmarthen area, by “liking” their Facebook pages.

Almost immediately he asked them to meet him for sex, and continued to pester the second girl even after she had pretended to be only 10 years old.

Miss Richards said Davies made contact with one of the girls by telephone and called her 112 times over the eight day period.

After his arrest Davies admitted he had contacted the girls with the sole intention of having sex with them.

His barrister, Carina Hughes, said Davies was well respected within the church community in Templeton.

She described him as naive and immature and said he found it easier to relate to people younger than he was.

Judge Keith Thomas said the offending was serious and had led to consequences.

One of the girls had attempted to harm herself, had run away from home and had contemplated suicide.

Judge Thomas said a short jail sentence would not provide Davies with the help he needed to prevent him from reoffending.

Davies was made the subject of a three year community order during which he will undergo counselling and undertake whatever courses the probation service tell him to.

He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order banning any unsupervised contact with anyone aged under 16.

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

20 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.