News

Lifeboats in search for overdue fishing vessel

Published

10 years ago

January 13, 2016

Sarah-Jane Absalom

RNLI Angle’s all weather Tamar class lifeboat Mark Mason.

RNLI Angle’s all weather and inshore lifeboats were launched on Tuesday evening (Jan 12) after a fishing vessel, with two persons on board, was reported overdue.

The fishing vessel was reported to have left her mooring in the Milford Haven area at 2.20pm and had not been heard from since.

The lifeboats were both launched, at the request of the Coastguard Operations Centre, Milford Haven, by 8.30pm and were tasked with searching separate areas of the Milford Haven Waterway.

The Tamar class all weather lifeboat Mark Mason initially searched from the west side of South Hook LNG terminal to St Ann’s Head.

The D class inshore lifeboat SuperG II searched Castle Pill, Milford Haven, to investigate a possible sighting of the vessel by Broad Haven Coastguard Rescue Team, but it turned out not to be the casualty.

The inshore lifeboat was then alerted to East Angle Bay, following a report by Milford Haven Port Control of a weak radar target in that area, and located the fishing vessel. All was found to be well on board, the crew having decided to stay out to work an extra tide .The all weather lifeboat was also tasked to the scene.

The lifeboats were cleared to return to their station shortly before 9 pm and within 30 minutes both had been rehoused.

Broad Haven Coastguard Rescue Team assisted in the search of the coastline and, due to the length of time the fishing vessel had been missing, Tenby’s all weather lifeboat Haydn Miller was put on stand-by to assist in the search. The Coastguard Rescue Helicopter at St Athan was also being requested when the casualty was located.

It was the second call out of the day for Angle lifeboat station.

In the first service of the new year, the all-weather lifeboat launched at 9.54 am, at the request of the Coastguard Operations Centre, Milford Haven, after a small craft was sighted drifting in the Hazelbeach area of the Milford Haven Waterway. It was not known if there was anyone on board.

When the lifeboat arrived on the scene at 10.08 am the information was updated to report that the boat had drifted across the river to the Llanreath area, west of Pembroke Dock.

The abandoned wreck of a small craft was sighted ashore, but it was decided to use the lifeboat’s Y boat to conduct a search from Pennar Point back to the Gun Tower at Llanreath, including the wreck. No other vessel was found and the Y boat was recovered.

With the Coastguard Operations Centre satisfied that the boat ashore at Llanreath was the casualty, the lifeboat was cleared to return to her station and was rehoused at 10.54 am.

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

11 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.

News

Man arrested after suspected drugs-related death in Haverfordwest

Published

11 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Police say death not suspicious as 46-year-old arrested over alleged Class A drug supply

A MAN has died following a medical emergency at a property in Haverfordwest, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called at 3:18pm on Wednesday (March 18) after a report of a medical incident.

A man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.

However, police confirmed that a man, aged 46, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

He has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

No further details about the deceased have been formally released.

Crime

Illegal dog breeders ordered to pay over £129,000 after council probe

Published

12 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOUR people from Mynyddygarreg, Kidwelly, have been ordered to pay more than £129,000 following a successful prosecution for illegal dog breeding.

At Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Mar 10), before His Honour Judge Thomas KC, Stacey May June Edwards, Peter John Edwards, Sian Eleri Thomas and David Malcolm James Thomas, all of Sea Breeze, Mynyddygarreg, pleaded guilty to offences under the Breeding of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2014.

The court imposed confiscation orders totalling £129,873.41 under the Proceeds of Crime Act across the four defendants. They were also ordered to pay £8,000 in costs, while each defendant received a £2,000 fine.

The investigation began in April 2021 after Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Health team received an enquiry from Peter Edwards about obtaining a dog breeding licence. Although licensing guidance was provided and a partial application was submitted in February 2022, this was later withdrawn.

In March 2024, the council received a complaint that puppies were being advertised for sale without the required licence. Officers subsequently contacted online advertising platforms and issued data requests to assess the scale of activity.

Analysis of records from Pets4Homes, Freeads and Gumtree revealed multiple litters being advertised by members of the same household.

Correspondence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act confirmed that up to 25 dogs were kept at the property, including between 16 and 19 breeding females.

While some defendants claimed joint ownership of the dogs, others attempted to minimise their involvement.

The Herald understands that numerous puppy advertisements were posted between July 2020 and April 2025, demonstrating a sustained pattern of unlicensed breeding.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “This case demonstrates the council’s firm stance against unlicensed and illegal dog breeding.

“These regulations are in place to protect animal welfare and ensure that breeding activities are subject to proper oversight. The scale of activity uncovered at this property was entirely unacceptable, and we welcome the court’s decision to issue significant confiscation orders under POCA.”

He added: “We urge anyone with concerns about illegal dog breeding to report it. Our Animal Health officers will continue to investigate thoroughly and take action against those who disregard the law.”

Residents are reminded that anyone breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect both animal welfare and consumers.