News

West Wales: Flooding and bad weather set to continue

Published

9 years ago

December 21, 2015

Llechryd Bridge: Water covers the bridge entirely

FIRE CREWS were hard at work this weekend tackling a number of floods across West Wales.

The River Towy burst its banks in Carmarthen, flooding land and vehicles near the Quay. In Abergwili the floodgate was closed to stop water from entering High Street.

Crews from Carmarthen and Llandeilo worked overnight on Saturday in the Pontargothi area, and made ‘steady progress’ pumping water away from properties.

Elsewhere in the county, fire crews spent more than eight hours in the centre of Cynwyl Elfed pumping water away from properties.

Three people had to be rescued from a car near Spydders Bridge on Saturday night by crews from Kidwelly and a wading team, as well as a tractor driver who was on the scene, and Cardigan crews released one person from a car that was trapped by flood water in Llechryd, Pembrokeshire.

On Sunday, Lampeter crews dealt with flooding in the Llanybydder area, and a Carmarthen crew attended after flooding in the Tregunnor area. In Llandysul, crews attended a vehicle which was stuck in flood water.

Following a number of stuck vehicles, MAWWFRS issued a warning to drivers. Chris Margetts, Head of Protection and Prevention said:

“Don’t drive through deep water. If you are unsure of the water depth just don’t do it, you are putting yourself and others at unnecessary risk:

Just one foot or 30cm of moving water can float your car;
An eggcup-full of water going into your engine is enough to wreck it;
Three-quarters of cars that get stuck in flood water are written off.

“Flood water can be deceptively powerful – it can literally rip up the road surface and dislodge manhole covers and kerbstones – and its depth and flow rate can quickly change with the weather.”

Heavy rain is set to continue this week, with weather warnings in place on Tuesday (Dec 22). Wednesday is set to be a brighter day, but Thursday and Friday see the rain returning, with strong winds and a risk of gales.

Crime

Domestic violence offender jailed after breaching court order

Published

3 hours ago

March 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A LONG-STANDING Pembrokeshire domestic violence offender has been sent back to prison after breaching a domestic violence protection order.

Paul Webber was arrested on March 18 after being seen kissing his victim outside probation offices in Haverfordwest, despite a court order preventing contact.

A court order imposed by Llanelli magistrates earlier this month prevented him from making any contact with the female after being convicted of threatening to kill her, strangle her, and sexually assault her.

“On March 12, a report was made to police that he’d attended a probation appointment with the female, who remained standing outside the offices,” a spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“Police officers viewed the CCTV footage and recognised the female as the victim.

“This was clearly a breach of the domestic violence protection order towards a vulnerable woman, and there’s also concern that she minimises incidents. He’s known as a domestic violence instigator with previous partners.”

Webber, of Winch Lane, Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to breaching the domestic violence protection order.

He was sentenced to 28 days in custody.

“You were aware of the terms of the order but you deliberately breached it,” said the presiding magistrate when passing sentence.

“You showed a complete disregard for it.”

Crime

Arrest warrant issued for charity box theft suspect

Published

3 hours ago

March 18, 2025

Sarah Jane Absalom

A WARRANT without bail has been issued for a Milford Haven man accused of stealing a charity box from the Castle Hotel in Haverfordwest.

Daniel Fairlie, 29, of Observatory Avenue, Milford Haven, was listed to appear before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, March 18. However, after failing to attend, magistrates issued a warrant for his arrest.

Fairlie is accused of stealing the charity box on November 23, 2024, along with multiple shoplifting offences and drug possession.

Crime

Bail breacher remanded in custody after ferry trip with victim

Published

3 hours ago

March 18, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A BAIL breacher has been remanded in custody after traveling to and from Ireland on the Pembroke Dock ferry with a victim he was prohibited from seeing.

Robson Franca, 38, was arrested by port officers after being seen in the presence of the complainant when the Rosslare ferry recently docked in Pembroke Dock.

This week, Haverfordwest magistrates were told that a domestic violence court order imposed by Avon and Somerset magistrates prohibited Franca from having any contact with the complainant pending his trial on May 16.

Franca’s solicitor, Peter Tarr, told the court that the complainant frequently contacts Franca and makes threats if he refuses to see her.

Despite the defense’s arguments, magistrates refused to grant bail, citing concerns that Franca might commit further offences, fail to surrender, or interfere with prosecution witnesses. He was remanded in custody.