News
Salmon on the slicks
IT emerged this week that Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Christopher Salmon is being investigated by the IPCC.
The investigation relates to an allegation that Mr Salmon drove a police-owned vehicle with defective tyres in October last year.
Mr Salmon, who hopes to retain the role of P&CC after the coming election in May, has said that he will ‘cooperate fully with the investigation’.
A spokesperson for the Independent Police Complaints Commission said: “The IPCC is independently investigating an alleged road traffic offence involving the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner, Christopher Salmon.
“The allegation relates to driving a police owned vehicle with defective tyres on a date in October 2015. The IPCC investigation follows a referral to the IPCC from the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel in January 2016.”
Meanwhile, the use of a police vehicle by the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner has been questioned by his Welsh Liberal Democrat opponent.
Richard Church has questioned why Salmon has been given use of a police vehicle at all.
A Freedom of Information request has found that the BMW 530 supplied to Mr Salmon is equipped with blue lights and a siren that he cannot use. The request also states the Commissioner is entitled to claim 45p a mile in mileage expenses for use of a private vehicle.
Mr Church said: “Christopher Salmon has been accused of driving a vehicle with defective tyres. That in itself is a serious accusation, and will doubtless follow the due process of the law.
“But this saga begs the question of why he has use of a specialist police vehicle at all. I can see no reason why an elected official on a good salary should be given a vehicle, complete with sirens and blue lights and paid for by the public purse, to go about his duties.
“This perk of public office that our Tory Police Commissioner is enjoying should be scrapped immediately, and if I’m elected in May I will do just that.
Crime
Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults
Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing
A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string of alleged offences including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.
Anthony Alcock, 40, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, faces six linked charges arising from incidents reported to have taken place earlier this year. Alcock, who did not enter pleas during the administrative hearings, appeared on several occasions as the court dealt with bail issues and case management.
- Multiple assault allegations
- The charges listed before magistrates include:
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
- Intentional strangulation
- Common assault of a woman
- Criminal damage relating to a domestic incident
- Further assault allegations linked to the same complainant
- A breach of bail conditions
The court heard that Alcock had previously been granted conditional bail. However, he was brought back before magistrates twice during the same reporting period for alleged breaches of those conditions, resulting in updated bail decisions.
Bail breached — defendant remanded
On two separate entries in the court register, Alcock was listed as having breached his bail, leading magistrates to remand him into custody pending the next hearing. On other dates within the same week, he was again re-released on conditional bail, with strict terms imposed, including restrictions on contact with the complainant and exclusions from certain locations.
He is now remanded on conditional bail with his next appearance set for Swansea Crown Court, where the more serious matters — including the alleged non-fatal strangulation — will be dealt with.
Case sent to Crown Court
Magistrates directed that the case is too serious to be heard locally and must proceed to the Crown Court for trial or sentence.
The Herald understands that all listed charges fall under the same prosecution reference, indicating they form part of a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution. No further details were opened in court at this stage.
Crime
Rogue roofer conned homeowner out of thousands
Caerphilly investigation leads to court conviction
A ROGUE trader from Pembroke has been ordered to pay more than £6,000 after duping a homeowner into handing over thousands for unnecessary roofing work.
Douggie Whitbread, aged twenty-five and living at Coldwell Terrace, Pembroke, persuaded his victim that he “probably needed a new roof” before charging £4,350 for work that was either unnecessary or not carried out properly.
Whitbread admitted two counts of fraud relating to a property on Griffiths Street, Ystrad Mynach, with the offences taking place between August 12 and October 16, 2023.
He appeared before Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court, where he was ordered to pay a total of £6,130. That includes £4,350 in compensation, £1,500 in prosecution costs, a £200 fine, and an £80 victim surcharge.
The case was brought following an investigation by Caerphilly Trading Standards, who urged residents to be cautious of unsolicited offers of home maintenance work.
News
South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association – Week Twelve results
A PACKET week of fixtures in the South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association’s Friendly League saw key wins at both ends of the table as teams continue to jostle for position going into the second half of the season.
Match results (Week 12):
- Hundleton 10–0 Lamphey
- Badgers 2–8 St Johns
- Reynalton 0–10 Carew
- Kilgetty 8–2 East Williamston
- Cosheston v Llanteg – postponed
- St Twynnells – bye week
A previously postponed fixture was also completed, with St Twynnells drawing 5–5 with Reynaltón.
League table (after Week 12):
East Williamston remain top, having played 10 and won eight, with a strong shots difference of +125. Reynaltón sit second after 11 games with 58 points, while St Johns and Hundleton follow closely behind on 54 points each.
At the mid-table mark, Carew (49 points), St Twynnells (48) and Kilgetty (46) remain tightly grouped. Badgers, Lamphey, Llanteg and Cosheston make up the lower order, though the number of games played varies, leaving room for movement in the coming weeks.
Full standings:
| Team | P | W | D | L | S/D | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Williamston | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | +125 | 72 |
| Reynaltón | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | +35 | 58 |
| St Johns | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | +32 | 54 |
| Hundleton | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | -2 | 54 |
| Carew | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | -25 | 49 |
| St Twynnells | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | -34 | 48 |
| Kilgetty | 11 | 5 | 0 | 6 | -44 | 46 |
| Badgers | 11 | 3 | 1 | 7 | -59 | 45 |
| Lamphey | 11 | 5 | 0 | 6 | -10 | 44 |
| Llanteg | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | -5 | 41 |
| Cosheston | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | -13 | 40 |
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N. Clegg
March 4, 2016 at 6:27 pm
That Lib Dem chancer has about as much chance of beating Chris Salmon as he does of walking on the moon.
Flashbang
March 6, 2016 at 1:14 am
Dear IPCC, why aren’t you looking into the suppression of the investigation into PCC and why he paid out an eye watering amount of money for removal expenses to some copper who then handed in his resignation a couple of years later?
tomos
March 7, 2016 at 8:33 am
Such a shame that these ppl at the top of the pile are really bringing the hard working cops that we see into disrepute.
tomos
March 7, 2016 at 8:35 am
PS I bet some poor erk will get the blame for the tyres as salmon is too busy and too important to spend 5 seconds looking at his tyres