News

Vital bus service preserved and extended

Published

10 years ago

February 2, 2016

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL and Hywel Dda UHB have welcomed an agreement to secure public transport provision for those attending outpatient appointments at Glangwili.

The public bus route between Haverfordwest and Carmarthen, route 322, is operated by Silcox Coaches without subsidy from the Local Authority.

Due to the relatively low numbers of passengers using the service it was at risk of being withdrawn.

With the changes to health services and the greater number of people required to travel to Glangwili Hospital it was important that the 322 bus service was retained.

Pembrokeshire County Council worked in partnership with Silcox Coaches and Hywel Dda Health Board in order to introduce a number of initiatives to enhance the service and make it more sustainable.

The route has now been extended to serve the hospitals directly and is now an easy access bus improving the travel experience for all passengers.

Whilst serving shoppers to Haverfordwest and Carmarthen, the bus now also serves both Glangwili and Withybush Hospitals making it ideal for people attending hospital appointments or visiting friends and family.

The announcement that Silcox Coaches’ 322 bus service between Haverfordwest and Carmarthen has been preserved has, however, not come without adverse reaction on social media.

Despite the recent announcement of an all-Wales non-emergency transport initiative, members of the public have suggested that requiring people to use public transport to attend outpatient appointments at Glangwili is unacceptable and pressed for a return of services to Withybush. The Board has previously made it clear that no clinical case has been made for the return of services transferred to Glangwili from Haverfordwest over recent years.

Patient transport to and from Glangwili was a substantial issue raised by members of the Pembrokeshire public during the recent the inquiry by the Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health. The comments online make it clear that there is little the Board can do to assuage those issues short of a complete clinical about face.

However, the complaints made on line suggest confusion between the extension of an existing bus service, non-emergency patient transport, and emergency ambulance provision, with one person enquiring whether the bus would be equipped with medical personnel and equipment.

Responding to the comments on its Facebook feed, a Board spokesperson said: ‘The purpose of sharing this information was to help those attending outpatient appointments or those visiting family and friends in Glangwilli Hospital – as this is a new service which people may not be aware of and which may be an option for some to consider depending on their circumstances. We do not propose this is a transport solution for sick children or late at night. For detailed information about the various travel options and advice for vulnerable families, please visit: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/862/page/83744”.

Hailing the service’s preservation and extension, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transportation, Councillor Rob Lewis, said: “We are pleased to have been involved with this scheme and to work closely with the Health Board and the other organisations to improve public access to health services in the county.”

Peter Llewellyn from the University Health Board said: “It is essential that we work collaboratively to improve patient access to health services in Pembrokeshire. We are already seeing the benefit of this partnership approach to patients across the county by working with colleagues from the Local Authority and Voluntary Sector with further developments planned.”

Speaking to The Herald: Cllr Jamie Adams, Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, said: “As a public service body, we recognise that from time to time, the point of delivery for services will change to ensure that services remain sustainable.

“What is important for the residents we represent is providing good access to those services and in that regard, we have been pleased to work with the Health Board to ensure that Pembrokeshire residents are not disadvantaged in terms of access to the service provision.”

Crime

Man charged with attempted murder after Carmarthen park incident

Published

9 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Tom Sinclair

57-year-old due in court following alleged knife and stalking offences

A MAN has been charged with attempted murder following a serious incident in Carmarthen town centre last week.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that James McKenna, aged 57, from Carmarthen, has been charged with attempted murder, possession of a bladed article in a public place, and stalking.

The charges relate to an incident in Carmarthen Park on Thursday (Jan 29), which prompted a significant emergency services response and caused concern among residents.

Police have not yet released full details of the circumstances, but officers were seen in and around the park area for several hours following the incident while enquiries were carried out.

McKenna is due to appear before Llanelli Magistrates Court on Thursday (Feb 5).

The Herald understands the case involves allegations of both violence and targeted behaviour towards an individual, with stalking listed among the charges.

Public concern

Carmarthen Park is a popular and busy public space used daily by families, dog walkers and joggers, and incidents of this severity are rare.

The news has prompted concern locally, particularly as the alleged offences include possession of a knife in a public place.

Residents have previously raised questions about safety in parks and open spaces across west Wales, especially during darker winter evenings.

Court proceedings

At this stage, the charges remain allegations and the case will now proceed through the courts.

Magistrates will decide whether the case is sent to Crown Court due to the seriousness of the attempted murder charge.

Further details are expected to emerge during Thursday’s hearing.

The Herald will be attending court and will provide updates as they become available.

Crime

Sex offender jailed after living off grid in Pembrokeshire and refusing to register

Published

9 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Court Reporter

Man walked into police station after months avoiding authorities

A CONVICTED sex offender who told police he intended to live “off grid” rather than comply with legal monitoring rules has been jailed after handing himself in at a Pembrokeshire police station.

Christopher Spelman, aged 66, of no fixed address, appeared for sentence at Swansea Crown Court after admitting breaching the notification requirements of the sex offenders register.

The court heard Spelman was released from prison in Dorset on July 4 last year but immediately refused to provide police with an address, despite being legally required to do so within three days.

Instead, he indicated he planned to buy a tent and live outdoors.

Prosecutor Brian Simpson said officers subsequently launched a nationwide search when Spelman failed to make contact with police. Public appeals were issued and his case featured on the television programme Crimewatch.

Detectives believed he had been travelling around the UK using public transport and staying at campsites. He was known to have links to several areas including Merseyside, Manchester, Devon, Cornwall and Hampshire.

His whereabouts remained unknown until January 3 this year, when he walked into Haverfordwest police station and was arrested. It is unclear how long he had been in Pembrokeshire.

Spelman previously served seven years in prison after being convicted in 2014 of 12 counts of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 14. He was placed on the sex offenders register for life.

The court heard this was not the first time he had failed to comply with the rules. After an earlier release in 2016, he again failed to register his address and avoided police for around five years before being caught.

He has 11 previous convictions for 29 offences.

Defence barrister Andrew Evans described the case as unusual and said his client had long disputed his original conviction and had expressed a wish to live “outside society”.

However, he said Spelman had gradually accepted that he remained subject to court orders and now wanted more stable accommodation and a chance to rebuild his life. The defendant asked the court to impose a custodial sentence so arrangements could be made for his future release.

Judge Geraint Walters noted there were signs Spelman wished to change but warned that any further breaches would result in longer prison terms.

With credit for his guilty plea, Spelman was sentenced to 10 months in prison. He will serve up to half in custody before being released on licence.

Crime

Former Wales rugby star admits Christmas Day drink-driving offence

Published

15 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.