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:

Crime

Former Wales rugby star admits Christmas Day drink-driving offence

Published

4 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Ex-Ospreys captain was almost twice over limit in Pembroke town centre

Former Wales back row Jonathan Thomas has admitted driving through Pembroke town centre on Christmas Day when he was almost twice over the drink-drive limit.

This week Haverfordwest magistrates heard that Thomas, 43, was stopped by officers as he drove his Mercedes CLA 220 along The Green, Pembroke, at around 5pm on Christmas Day.

“The officers were very concerned at the manner of his driving, as the car was being driven erratically and was swerving to the other side of the road,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan.

“When Jonathan Thomas got out of the car, the officers could see that he was having difficulty standing and was unsteady on his feet.”

Subsequent breathalyser tests showed Thomas had 62 mcg of alcohol in his system, the legal limit being 35.

Thomas, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the drink-drive charge and was represented in court by solicitor Jess Hill.

“He has family in the area and had travelled to spend time with them on Christmas Day,” she told the magistrates. “He’s very remorseful for his actions and hugely regrets his decision that day.”

Jess Hill concluded by saying that Thomas is currently “between jobs and living off his savings”.

Thomas, who gave his address as Main Road, Bredon, was disqualified from driving for a total of 18 months.

“The length of your disqualification reflects the fact that you were more than a little bit over the limit,” commented the presiding magistrates when imposing sentence.

He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 court surcharge.

The former Wales back row left his role as Swansea RFC head coach at the beginning of December 2025 as a result of ongoing health concerns. He was forced to retire from playing in 2015 on medical advice after being diagnosed with epilepsy and is one of the 390 former rugby union players currently taking part in a concussion lawsuit against the sport’s authorities.

“Long-standing issues linked to the head trauma have caused me some concern recently and it has been impossible for me to give the role everything it needs,” he said in a previous interview with the BBC.

His rugby career started out with Pembroke RFC juniors before moving to Swansea RFC, which he captained when he was 19. He then joined the Ospreys where, over a ten-year period, he won four league titles and an Anglo-Welsh Cup. He was the youngest player to captain the Ospreys and, at the time of leaving, was the joint highest appearance holder, together with Andrew Bishop, on 188 appearances.

His international career saw him play for Wales at Under-16, Youth, Under-19, Under-21 and Sevens levels. He made his senior international debut against Australia in 2003, featured at the 2007 Rugby World Cup and was part of two Six Nations Grand Slam-winning sides in 2005 and 2008. Between 2004 and 2011, Thomas was included in every Wales Six Nations squad. In his appearances for Wales, he scored seven tries.

Local Government

Independent panel gives positive verdict on Pembrokeshire County Council

Published

4 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Tamsin Mathias

Four-day assessment highlights improvement, leadership and governance

AN INDEPENDENT panel has concluded that Pembrokeshire County Council is meeting its statutory performance requirements and has shown improvement across a number of key areas.

The findings follow a four-day visit in October 2025, when a group of external peers carried out a Panel Performance Assessment (PPA), a process required once every electoral cycle under Welsh Government legislation.

The purpose of the PPA is to provide an independent expert view on how effectively the council is using its functions, how it deploys resources, and whether its governance arrangements are fit for purpose.

The four-member panel was led by Phil Roberts, independent chair and former chief executive of Swansea Council. Other members were Cllr Anthony Hunt, leader of Torfaen Council; Emma Palmer, chief executive of Powys Council; and Andrea Street OBE, representing the public, private and voluntary sectors.

In its final report, the panel concluded that Pembrokeshire County Council is meeting its statutory requirements and commented favourably on many aspects of its work. The authority was described as effective, having responded well to a challenging financial position and demonstrated improvement in a number of key areas.

Among the report’s findings was praise for “a cohesive cabinet, which despite its rainbow coalition arrangements, exercises a model of distributed leadership which is particularly effective”. The panel also highlighted “a committed Senior and Extended Leadership Team who recognised the journey of improvement the council has been on under the Chief Executive’s strong leadership”.

The panel further noted “a broad set of values and behaviours consistently demonstrated across the organisation, from the Senior Leadership Team to frontline staff”, adding that there was “a genuine desire to work in the interests of the communities and residents of the county”.

While the overall assessment was positive, the report also identified areas where further progress could be made. Seven recommendations were set out, covering scrutiny arrangements, corporate capacity, collaborative leadership, economic regeneration capacity, resource prioritisation, communications, and transformation and innovation.

Council leader Jon Harvey welcomed the report, describing the assessment as a constructive experience.

“This was an extremely positive experience for the council, and an opportunity to learn and benefit from the views and perspectives of independent experts from outside the authority,” he said. “We welcome the assurance provided by the panel that we are on the right track, and the feedback which has helped to identify opportunities and areas for improvement.”

Cllr Harvey also thanked panel members for their work, along with officers from the Welsh Local Government Association who supported the assessment process.

“We accept the panel’s findings in full and I am convinced that the action plan we have developed in response to the recommendations will enable us to further strengthen key areas of our work so we can continue to provide quality services to our residents and communities,” he added.

In line with legislation, the council has produced a formal response and action plan setting out how it will address the panel’s recommendations. These will be presented to Cabinet on February 9 and to full council on March 5 for formal approval.

News

Kurtz calls on Labour MPs to back release of Mandelson papers

Published

4 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Staff Writer

Opposition motion follows Epstein-linked document disclosures

A SENEDD Member has called on Labour MPs to support a Conservative Opposition Day Motion demanding the release of papers linked to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as the UK Ambassador to the United States.

Samuel Kurtz said the motion follows the publication of new files and photographs involving Lord Mandelson, which were released as part of a United States investigation into the disgraced and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Speaking out, Mr Kurtz said that during Prime Minister’s Questions, the Prime Minister admitted he was aware of Peter Mandelson’s ongoing relationship with Epstein at the time of his appointment.

“That means the Prime Minister knowingly appointed Peter Mandelson to one of the most important diplomatic roles in government despite his links to Epstein,” he said. “This raises serious questions about the Prime Minister’s judgement.”

Mr Kurtz went on to accuse the Prime Minister of attempting to prevent transparency over the appointment process.

“Now, instead of being open and transparent, the Prime Minister is attempting to block the release of documents relating to Mandelson’s appointment in order to protect his own position,” he said.

He warned that Labour MPs who oppose the motion would share responsibility for withholding information, adding: “If Labour MPs support blocking the release of these papers, they will be complicit in covering up the process and judgement that led the Prime Minister to appoint Peter Mandelson as Ambassador, despite his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.”