News

Pembroke: Bus driver hit and killed woman ‘he failed to see’

Published

11 years ago

November 25, 2015

Tom Sinclair

Picture by Mike Hillen/Herald

AN EXPERIENCED bus driver failed to see a pedestrian using a crossing in the centre of Pembroke and killed a woman “liked by all and loved by many.”

There was still no explanation why driver Stuart Heeps did not see Mrs Margaret Hanks until it was too late even though she would have been in full view for at least seven seconds.

Heeps, aged 55, of Appley Terrace, Pembroke Dock, today admitted causing death by careless driving and was jailed for 14 months, suspended for two years.

He was also banned from driving for three years and told to take an extended driving test before getting his licence back.

Swansea Crown Court heard that Heeps had been a specialist driver in the army and a bus driver for the last nine years.

Brian Simpson, prosecuting, said on March 7 Mrs Hanks, aged 75, had been walking along Northgate Street by the Mill Pond Bridge. She crossed the road on a pedestrian crossing and had almost reached the pavement on the far side when Heeps drove into her without braking or swerving.

The crash was caught by CCTV cameras and footage of the impact was shown to the court, with the agreement of Mrs Hanks’ family.

Heeps had been driving at between 17mph and 21mph in a 30mph area and did not react at all to Mrs Hanks being in front of him.

She suffered “catastrophic” head injuries and was declared dead while in an ambulance at the scene.

Heeps became so distraught he had to be comforted by passers by.

He said at the time, “She came from no-where.”

Mr Simpson said Heeps should have been able to see Mrs Hanks for 79 metres after turning into Northgate Street. He told police he had checked the exit of a car park and “scanned around” but did not see Mrs Hanks until she was on the ground.

Heeps’ barrister, Jonathan Tarrant, said he fully accepted his responsibility for the death of Mrs Hanks and had told him, “It was my fault. It was a personal failing.”

Heeps himself, added Mr Tarrant, would welcome an explanation as to why he had not seen Mrs Hanks even when she must have been right in front of his bus.

The court heard a victim impact statement from Mrs Heeps’ husband of 55 years, Derek. He said his wife had been “full of life,” a woman who would sing at the top of her voice at Haven Church, Pembroke.

He said he had lost the will to carry on with his own life and that his wife was deeply missed by her son Richard and daughter Marie, and her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Judge Huw Davies said Heeps’ driving had come “not far short” of dangerous and not just careless. There had been plenty of time for Heeps to see that someone was using the crossing but he had not reacted at all “and you just knocked her down.”

“This was a dreadful accident for which you bear the entire blame. Even you cannot explain why you did not react as you must have done times without number over the years.

“For one reason or another you allowed your attention to wander. It would have been simplicity itself to have braked and allowed her to continue crossing the road.

“The consequences have been desperately sad and Mrs Hanks’ husband is a very different man to the one he was before losing his wife.

“Margaret Hanks was liked by all and loved by many and they have struggled to cope with an irreplaceable loss.”

*Judge Davies criticised the Crown Prosecution Service for the way the case had been prepared. It was sub standard, he said, particularly for a case involving a fatality.

He said he did not criticise Mr Simpson but those in the CPS who “hid behind his presence while he took the flak.”

It appeared, he added, that the CPS took an early indication of a guilty plea as an excuse to stop doing any more work.

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20 Comments

Pete

November 25, 2015 at 11:55 pm

A correction is needed in the following paragraph as it should be “Mrs Hanks’ husband..”

The court heard a victim impact statement from Mrs Heeps’ husband of 55 years, Derek. He said his wife had been “full of life,” a woman who would sing at the top of her voice at Haven Church, Pembroke.
Izzy

November 26, 2015 at 3:59 pm

A case that a loss of life and only 14months should have been not suspended but jailed instantly custodial sentence imposed and should have had longer 5 yrs. The driver took a life of a lovely lady and maybe the victims family might see Heeps in the street walking free. I won’t get on a Silcox bus, drivers got no consideration for other road users cause they got to keep to time. I’ve had them pull out in front of me and other cars without due care and attention
Tomos

November 30, 2015 at 6:53 pm

@ Izzy:
IF what you say is correct maybe the managers need to be looked at to see if they’re pushing their drivers to hard to stick to a rigid time table?
Mark James

January 3, 2016 at 8:19 pm

Silcox bus drivers are low paid, low skilled and often low intelligence. They’re a danger to other road users, both drivers and pedestrians alike, and it’s only down to luck that there are not more deaths on the local roads.

They drive these huge vehicles as if they’re family saloons. Perhaps their schedules are too tight?
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Climate

Blue sea creatures wash up on Welsh beaches including Tenby

Published

6 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

VISITORS to Welsh beaches have been warned not to touch unusual blue sea creatures which have washed ashore along parts of the coastline.

Hundreds of velella velella, commonly known as by-the-wind sailors, have been reported on beaches in Anglesey, Gwynedd and Tenby.

The small, bright blue marine creatures are free-floating hydrozoans and are related to Portuguese man o’ war, sea anemones and corals.

They get their name from a small sail-like structure on their body, which catches the wind and carries them across the surface of the sea.

One was spotted on Tenby South Beach on Tuesday (Jun 16), where beachgoer Maxine Allinson described it as “fantastic” and “like a crystal”.

Marine experts say the creatures are often seen after changes in currents or stormy weather, which can push large numbers ashore at the same time.

Although they are much smaller and less dangerous than Portuguese man o’ war, they do have stinging cells.

Their sting is usually mild, but people are being advised not to pick them up, especially as contact with the face, lips or sensitive skin could cause pain or tingling.

Experts also warn that the stinging cells can remain active even after the creatures appear to be dead on the beach.

The advice is to admire them from a safe distance and leave them where they are.

Caption: Maxine Allinson spotted a velella velella on Tenby South beach Tuesday

Local Government

Mayor to hold drop-in session for Haverfordwest residents

Published

6 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

HAVERFORDWEST residents will have the chance to raise ideas, concerns and local issues directly with the town’s mayor this week.

Cllr Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner will hold a Talk to Your Mayor session on Thursday, from 12:00pm until 2:00pm.

The initiative is aimed at giving residents an opportunity to speak directly with the mayor about matters affecting the town and wider community.

Cllr Thomas-Turner said communication and engagement were “vital”, adding that the session was about listening to local people, working together, and ensuring every voice had the opportunity to be heard.

Anyone wishing to book an appointment is asked to contact the Haverfordwest Town Council town clerk.

The mayor said: “Together, we can continue building a stronger and more connected community. Together we can make Haverfordwest the best in the west.”

News

Senedd rejects Reform call to end Welsh Government international spending

Published

7 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE SENEDD has rejected a Reform UK motion calling for an end to all Welsh Government international spending, after a heated debate which saw several Members walk out of the chamber.

The motion, tabled by Reform MS Llŷr Powell, was defeated by 48 votes to 37 on Wednesday (Jun 17).

An amended motion, backing Wales’ reputation as an “internationalist, tolerant and outward-looking nation”, was then passed by the same margin.

The debate followed warnings from Hub Cymru Africa and other campaigners that ending international spending would damage Wales’ global reputation and undermine projects linking Welsh communities with partners overseas.

Reform argued that Welsh Government money should be focused on domestic pressures, including the NHS, schools, transport and the cost of living.

Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar backed the Reform motion, saying foreign relations and international development were matters for the UK Government rather than Cardiff Bay.

But Plaid Cymru and Welsh Government speakers rejected that argument, saying Wales’ international work supported trade, public services, education, health partnerships and the country’s reputation abroad.

The debate became heated after comments by Reform MS Joe Martin, who criticised overseas schemes including beekeeping and tree-planting projects in Uganda.

Several MSs left the Siambr during his contribution, with the Llywydd later urging Members to reflect on the tone of the debate.

Hub Cymru Africa had said before the vote that Wales’ international solidarity budget represented a tiny fraction of overall spending and helped deliver work in public health, climate action, women’s empowerment and sustainable development.

The organisation said the vote was an opportunity for the Senedd to reaffirm Wales’ place in the world.