News

Saundersfoot: Owner of fouling dog owned by mystery man with camera

Published

10 years ago

October 25, 2015

Tom Sinclair

Mystery dog owner: You have no idea who you are talking to (Pic: YouTube)

A MEMBER of the public has uploaded a video to YouTube of himself criticising a dog owner for not picking up dog mess.

The video has started to go viral around Pembrokeshire on Facebook.

In the film the mystery uploader, who calls himself The Leveller, says: “This gentleman’s dog has done a poo, and I have asked him to pick it up, and he is quite reluctant, he wants to argue. I am just going to stand here and wait for him do it.”

He adds: “You have a public responsibility, and it is law now, you have got to pick it up.”

The reaction of the man with the dog has become a subject of debate on Facebook with many people saying they are angry at his attitude, “You have no idea who you are talking to” he says.

‘IT WAS A SET UP’, SAYS DOG OWNER

The Herald tracked down the dog owner. His name is Toby Olford.

Mr Olford told the Herald: “I was walking my dog on the beach, when I walked passed a man metal detecting. He stopped me and asked if the dog was mine. When I told him the dog was, he said he had just seen it fouling and marched me 50yds up the beach to point it out.

“I found this very strange as I had just picked up my dog’s poo 5 minutes earlier and you can see in the video that I was carrying bags for this use.”

Mr Olford went on to explain that this was the point the filming began but he couldn’t really understand why.

He feels that he was set up but confirmed that he does not know the filmmaker.

After the filming started, Mr Oldfield said he felt intimidated into ‘picking up dog mess that did not belong to his dog by a very confrontational person’ and claims that the video has been heavily edited of the foul language that the filmmaker used, he also told the Herald that the conversation on film lasted around 3 minutes.

Mr Olford added: “I said in the video, ‘You don’t know who I am’ – I did not mean this in an arrogant way, and I do not think for one minute that I am above the law, the reason I said this is due to the fact that my family and I have very strong connections with this beach and it means a lot to us and our livelihood, the people who know me know I would not let this happen.”

Mr Olford’s father told our reporter that he and his family are “often cleaning up dog poo from the beach” and also a huge amount of horse poo so for his son to let his own dog do this would go against their beliefs in keeping the beach in prime condition.

The family are very disappointed to have been “painted in a bad light” and do not wish to start a war with the filmmaker, all they are interested in, hey say, is airing their side of the story without inflaming the matter any further.

The Herald understands that the family own the beach from the mean high-water line to the beach head.

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24 Comments

Welshman23

October 25, 2015 at 5:13 pm

Spot on who the hell is the person with the dog, he seems to think he is above the law
John

October 26, 2015 at 5:18 am

Has he been in X factor??
pinkcat

October 26, 2015 at 7:28 am

The amount of people not clearing up after their dogs is unbelievable. I have been to saundersfoot Coppice Hall side many time and witnessed dog owners letting their dogs foul in the stream area whilst little children are paddling. Absolutely disgusting. Don’t they realise that some poor kid is going to pick up the dog poo as it is amongst the sand. Dog poo can cause blindness, this matter should not be taken lightly.
Em mizsei

October 26, 2015 at 9:43 am

Who is he?!
PooFighters

October 26, 2015 at 10:50 am

Is he Ronnie Pickering?
barbara

October 26, 2015 at 12:13 pm

shame on him i dont give a monkeys who he is pick up the pooo you muppet,well done for pulling him up on this, if i see anyone walking away i always offer them a bag to pick it up
OMG

October 26, 2015 at 2:14 pm

How do we know he wasn’t going to pick it up? Sorry just an patronising idiot with a camera!
JP

October 26, 2015 at 4:05 pm

@ OMG:
Because he didnt have any bags with him to pick it up, he had to have the bags off the ‘patronising idiot’ with a camera??
Www

October 26, 2015 at 4:28 pm

@ JP:
He did have his own bags tho, the man just offered some. He used his own bags
Elina

October 26, 2015 at 4:55 pm

Hello, just to clear this up a bit. I am the girl in the video. I don‘t know how we got pulled into this mess, but this is not the whole video.
That day we were heading to the beach to walk the dog and our dog had done hiss business, which we cleaned up maybe 5-10 minutes before we stumbled upon this man with a metal detector. Our dog was just enjoying his run on the beach as we were keeping an eye on him. And then this man comes up to us saying that he‘s seen our dog making a mess just now, as we were passing by with the dog. So we argued, that it wasn‘t our dogs mess, but he was certain he‘d seen it (while metal detecting). We gave in for the sake of the argument and because it in fact IS in our interest to keep the beach clean. So that‘s the reason for being reluctant.
And then to our surprise he takes out his phone and starts filming us. That is certainly not the kind of reaction one would expect after trying to settle an argument. But we thought that he was just a bit strange and laughed it off. We didn‘t expect AT ALL, that it would turn out like this. We did have our own poo bags. And this man is just accusing us for nothing, he was metal detecting and looking at the ground with his German sheppard just a few feet away.
I am all for cleaning after your own pet, it‘s just that there was no need at all for him to get so agressive with us.
JP

October 26, 2015 at 5:55 pm

@ Www:
The lady in the video takes a bag off him and picks the poo up when he says ‘you’ve missed a bit’@ Www:
JP

October 26, 2015 at 5:57 pm

@ Elina:
The real question that everyone is wondering is, who is he??
Famous footballer? Film star? Lord mayor of Saundersfoot?
Mag

October 26, 2015 at 6:26 pm

@ Elina:
I’m dying to know Elina, who is he because he didn’t seem to know who he was?
Kieran

October 26, 2015 at 6:29 pm

@ Elina:

SO AS YOUR MALE SAYS DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM
WELL FOLKS ON HERE WANT TO KNOW
WHO IS HE
Bryn

October 26, 2015 at 7:07 pm

I know this gentleman and I can assure everyone if it was his dog he would clean it up he carries doggy poo bags wherever he goes he is the most responsible dog owners I know. People want to see the mess humans leave behind on the beach in the summer months and the stones and rocks that metal detector users dig up and leave for people to trip over or children stub toes or cut feet on or even the holes they leave I have twisted my ankle a couple of times in but no body worries about that.
Sam

October 26, 2015 at 7:26 pm

Was he Ronnie Pickering??
OMG

October 26, 2015 at 7:30 pm

@ JP:
If you look he has a bag in hands at the start of the video. The fact is we don’t know the full story from watching a short video clip. “When it comes to privacy and accountability, people always demand the former for themselves and the latter for everyone else.” – David Brin
elaine Ashby

October 26, 2015 at 9:54 pm

@ Elina:
Why did he keep saying you dont know who you are speaking to? Who is he anyway? Perhaps you should respond with this explanation on Facebook. The guy with the camera was pretty determined. And put you on you tube. And now all over Facebook. Not fair if he was in the wrong.
John

October 26, 2015 at 10:07 pm

Well done, it like baby poop, no one likes dealing with someone else’s child’s mess….

I could see you were doing the right thing – most people do, but I just loved the ‘don’t you know who I am’ type comment because frankly, no I don’t (should I?) and moreover it shouldn’t make any difference….
TenbyLifeboater

October 26, 2015 at 10:11 pm

I was actually on the beach when all this happened, and the video is a bit of a distortion of the actual facts I believe.
In fact, there was an Alsatian n the beach at the same time who i saw poo on the sand, around the same spot where it has been dug up, and the fog was unattended.
I think this couple have been portrayed in a bad light, and there is the potential that the person who filmed this video may have even asked this couple to clean up his OWN dog’s mess, without him realising it. I’d be more than happy to have this published for the record as a witness to the facts.
It’s so frustrating nowadays when you only get half truths.
Elina

October 27, 2015 at 8:35 pm

@ TenbyLifeboater:
Thank You so much for Your support.
James Henry

October 27, 2015 at 11:33 pm

i quite often see this metal detector chap having a cheeky wee on the beach particularly in the winter, should he then take his mess home?
Theres some strange folk about 😉
Helen Carp

October 29, 2015 at 5:46 pm

@ Elina:
people money big money rom these videos especially when they go viral as this one did. i expect he is laughing all the way to the bank. it’s a shame people get sucked in.
Helen Carp

October 29, 2015 at 5:47 pm

@ Elina:
people make money big money rom these videos especially when they go viral as this one did. i expect he is laughing all the way to the bank. it’s a shame people get sucked in.@ Elina:

Business

Welsh Govt shifts stance on business rates after pressure from S4C and Herald

Published

11 hours ago

December 3, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Ministers release unexpected statement 48 hours after widespread concern highlighted in Welsh media

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has announced a new package of tapered business rates relief for 2026-27, in a move that follows sustained pressure from Welsh media — including S4C Newyddion and The Pembrokeshire Herald — over the impact of revaluation on small businesses.

In Milford Haven, the hard-pressed pub sector is already feeling the impact: the annual bill for The Lord Kitchener is rising from £5,000 to £15,000, while rates at the Kimberley Public House have nearly doubled from £10,500 to £19,500. The Imperial Hall’s rates are increasing from £5,800 to £9,200, prompting director Lee Bridges to question why businesses “are being asked to pay more when we use less services”. In Haverfordwest, the annual rates bill for Eddie’s Nightclub is increasing from £57,000 to £61,500.

A written statement, issued suddenly on Wednesday afternoon, confirms that ministers will introduce a transitional “tapering mechanism” to soften steep increases for tourism, hospitality and small independent operators. Full details will be published with the draft Budget later this month.

The announcement comes less than two days after The Herald’s in-depth reporting brought forward direct concerns from Pembrokeshire business owners and councillors, highlighting the uncertainty facing one of Wales’ most important local industries.

Herald reporting credited by senior councillor

Pembrokeshire County Council Independent Group Leader Cllr Huw Carnhuan Murphy publicly thanked The Herald for pushing the issue into the spotlight.

In a statement shared on Wednesday, Cllr Murphy said: “Welcome news from Welsh Government. Thanks to Tom Sinclair for running this important item in the Herald in relation to the revaluation of businesses and the consequences it will have for many.

He added: “Newyddion S4C hefyd am redeg y stori pwysig yma ynghylch trethi busnes.,” which in English is “and thanks to S4C Newyddion as well for running this important story about business taxes.”

He added that the Independent Group “will always campaign to support our tourism and agriculture industry, on which so many residents rely within Pembrokeshire”.

Media spotlight increased pressure on Cardiff Bay

On Monday, ministers said business rates plans would be outlined “within the next two weeks”.
By Wednesday afternoon — following prominent coverage on S4C and continued pressure from The Herald — Welsh Government released an early written statement outlining new support.

Industry sources told The Herald they believed the level of public concern, amplified by the media, “forced the issue up the agenda much faster than expected”.

A cautious welcome for ‘better than nothing’

Cllr Murphy welcomed the partial support, though he stressed it fell short of what many businesses had hoped for.

“This isn’t the level of support many were hoping for,” he said, “but it is certainly much better than nothing.”

Draft Budget expected soon

The full tapered support scheme will be detailed in the Welsh Government draft Budget, expected within a fortnight.

Tourism and hospitality representatives have reserved final judgment until the figures are published, but many have expressed relief that some support will continue, following weeks of uncertainty.

Crime

Pembroke rape investigation dropped – one suspect now facing deportation

Published

15 hours ago

December 3, 2025

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE have closed an investigation into an alleged rape and false imprisonment in Pembroke after deciding to take no further action. One of the two men originally arrested is now in immigration detention and faces deportation.

The incident took place on Main Street over the weekend of 8–9 November 2025. Police were called at 9:45am on Sunday 9 November after reports of a woman in distress. She was taken to hospital for treatment.

Two men – aged 36 and 27 – were arrested at the scene on suspicion of rape and false imprisonment. They were subsequently released on bail while enquiries continued.

On Tuesday (2 December 2025), the force announced the criminal investigation has concluded and no charges will be brought. A police spokesperson said the decision took full account of the victim’s wishes.

Outcome for the two suspects:

The 36-year-old man has been transferred to the custody of the Home Office Immigration Enforcement team and is now detained pending deportation.
The 27-year-old man has been released with no further police action.

A Dyfed-Powys Police statement read: “This investigation was not terrorism-related, and we have no knowledge of any linked incident in Monkton. All rumours suggesting otherwise are incorrect.”

The force has also dismissed separate community speculation that the men entered the UK illegally on fraudulent passports or were due in court this week on terrorism charges.

Detectives stressed that every report of rape or serious sexual assault is treated seriously and victims are supported throughout. Anyone affected has been directed to specialist services, details of which are available on the force website.

No further police updates are expected.

News

Baby C trial: Mother breaks down in tears in the witness box

Published

15 hours ago

December 3, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

She tells jury Christopher Phillips repeatedly offered to babysit her seven-week-old son alone in weeks before life-changing injuries were discovered

THE MOTHER of Baby C – the seven-week-old boy allegedly raped and seriously injured by Christopher Phillips – has begun giving evidence at Swansea Crown Court.

Speaking in a barely audible voice from the witness box and frequently breaking down in tears, the woman (who cannot be named for legal reasons) described the rapid deterioration of her infant son’s health in the weeks after she began a relationship with Phillips, whom she met on Tinder.

The couple started messaging shortly after Baby C’s birth in November 2020. The mother’s Tinder profile featured a photograph of herself cradling her newborn son.

She told the jury that all of their meetings took place at her flat in Pembrokeshire. Initially, Phillips paid no attention to the baby, but after about three weeks he began showing interest in the child.

“He sent me a message saying that if I ever needed time to myself – for shopping or anything – he would stay in the flat with the baby,” she said. She declined the offer, explaining to the court: “I didn’t know him well enough to leave my baby alone with him. You don’t leave your baby with someone you barely know.”

Days after Baby C received his first vaccinations, the child began screaming in his sleep. The mother described the cries as sounding “as if someone was snapping his bones” – a family expression she said she had grown up hearing.

A few days later she discovered extensive bruising to the baby’s bottom, a swollen testicle and blood in his nappy. Alarmed, she confided in her sister and parents. Her mother (the baby’s grandmother) immediately suspected deliberate harm, referring to “some paedo” and urging her daughter to seek urgent medical help.

The following day the mother contacted her health visitor and GP. When she told Phillips about the appointments, he became angry.

“He wasn’t shouting, but his tone was different,” she said. “He was worried it would get out in the community and that he would be seen as a suspect. He told me to ‘nip it in the bud’. He said that once it had blown over he would put his offer back on the table – the offer to look after the baby. But I still wasn’t going to accept it.”

On another occasion she walked in while Phillips was changing the baby’s nappy and noticed Sudocrem around his finger “as if it had come from a pot”. She told the jury she did not own a pot of Sudocrem.

On 19 January 2021, following further concerns, Baby C was examined at West Wales General Hospital. Doctors examined his testicle and anus. The mother said she felt “horrible” taking him in but “relieved and reassured” when they were allowed home with advice.

Back at the flat, however, Phillips complained that her refusal to let him have alone time with the baby was “annoying” him and accused her of “micro-managing”. “I was just looking after my baby,” she said.

The mother then described the events of 24 January 2021, the night she dialled 999.

Baby C began screaming in a way she had never heard before. “It wasn’t a cry of pain exactly, but I knew something was terribly wrong,” she said.

At the time the screaming started, Phillips was in the baby’s room, supposedly changing his nappy. When she tried to go in, Phillips told her to stay in the living room. Ignoring him, she entered and saw Phillips fastening the nappy. He then left the room without putting the baby’s babygro back on – something she said immediately struck her as wrong.

Baby C was taken to hospital in a critical condition with catastrophic injuries. He survived but suffered life-changing harm.

The mother denies two charges of causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm and two charges of child cruelty by neglect.

Christopher Phillips (37), of Warrior Reach, Burton, Pembrokeshire, denies eleven counts of sexual penetration of a child under 13, four counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, all between 20 December 2020 and 25 January 2021.

Cross-examination of the mother by the prosecution is due to begin tomorrow (Thursday, Dec 4). Closing speeches and the judge’s summing-up are expected next week, with the jury likely to retire to consider verdicts on Tuesday.