News

Pembroke Dock: Town’s most prolific offender facing jail for non-payment of fine

Published

10 years ago

March 14, 2016

A PEMBROKESHIRE man with almost one hundred criminal convictions is to appear at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court today (Mar 14) to explain to magistrates why he has not paid a court fine.

Richard Fairbrass, of London Road, Pembroke Dock, now out of jail after being caged last year, has been summoned for failing to pay £630 that was imposed on 17 July 2013.

Fairbrass appeared at Swansea Crown Court in July to be sentenced for his 96th, 97th and 98th offence.

He admitted assaulting an acting police sergeant and to threatening to kill a sergeant and his family.

Fairbrass, aged 50, became involved in a scuffle with another man inside the Prince of Wales pub in Pembroke Dock on April 1.

Police responded and used CS spray to part the men and calm the situation, but in the process Fairbrass punched acting sergeant Sean Doble in his face.

After his arrest and while he was being driven to a police station, Fairbrass became “extremely abusive, ranting and raving and swearing at the police.”

But the ranting turned more sinister when he asked about Sgt Hamish Nicholls, who was not involved in his arrest or even on duty.

He threatened to kill him, and said, “Lock me in a cell with him and I will be the only one to walk out.”

Fairbrass said he knew Sgt Nicholls’ wife was a serving officer and that they had three children. “When I find out where she and the children live I will kill them as well,” he said.

The court heard that Sgt Nicholls became concerned to discover that Fairbrass was aware of his family’s make up.

Judge Peter Heywood, the sentencing judge, was also told that Fairbrass already had 95 previous convictions to his name, including one for a threat to kill for which he received a three year jail sentence.

And he was in breach of a conditional discharge for obstructing a police officer.

Dyfed Thomas, the barrister representing Fairbrass, said he had been drunk and made “foolish, nasty remarks while in the back of a police car.”

He had never intended to carry out any of the threats.

Mr Thomas said Fairbrass lived in the locality and had children and grandchildren within the community.

Judge Heywood told Fairbrass, “You had been on the pop and made drunken but sinister remarks.

“The drink was in and the wit was out. You have been in trouble for most of your life, although your offending has been falling away in recent years,” he added.

Fairbrass, whose bail address was given as in Cornwall, was jailed for two months for the assault and 12 months for the threats to kill, making a total of 14 months.

He could be re-jailed if he does not clear his debt to the court.

Community

Festive creativity shines as Kurtz MS meets card competition winner

Published

44 minutes ago

December 15, 2025

Tom Sinclair

SAMUEL KURTZ, Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, visited Pembroke Dock Community School on Friday 12th December to present a prize to the winner of this year’s Christmas Card Competition.

The competition invited pupils to design a festive Christmas card, with entries received from schools across the area. The standard of artwork was exceptionally high, showcasing the creativity, imagination and talent of young people in the community.

During the visit, Samuel Kurtz congratulated the winning pupil and thanked all those who took part, as well as the teachers and staff who supported the competition. Each child who entered also received a certificate in recognition of their hard work and effort.

Speaking after the presentation, Samuel said, “It was a real pleasure to visit Pembroke Dock Community School today and announce the winner of my Christmas Card competition. This year the winner is Mair Moseley, aged 10, and she designed a wonderful Santa image that really stood out. She has won a chocolate selection set and a £20 book token to enjoy over Christmas.”

He added, “ The creativity and enthusiasm shown by all the children was fantastic, and it made choosing a winner extremely difficult. I want to congratulate all the entrants and thank the staff for their ongoing support.”

Pembroke Dock Community School Headteacher, Mrs Katie Crockford-Morris, added, “We were delighted to welcome Samuel Kurtz MS to the school to present the prize. The children thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the competition, and they were incredibly proud to receive their certificates.”

The winning design will now be used as Samuel Kurtz’s official Christmas card this year, with one copy already on its way to His Majesty, King Charles.

Charity

Two Welsh families fund Childline across the UK on Christmas Day

Published

59 minutes ago

December 15, 2025

Staff Writer

Joint £40,000 gift ensures vital support is available when children need it most

TWO Cardiff families have joined forces to fund the NSPCC’s Childline service across the whole of the UK on Christmas Day, ensuring children have somewhere to turn during one of the toughest times of the year.

The Peterson family and the Bowles family are each donating £20,000 as part of the charity’s One Unforgettable Day project. Their combined £40,000 contribution will cover the entire cost of running Childline for 24 hours on 25 December.

Childline operates 12 bases nationwide and offers a free, confidential service to anyone under 19, available day and night, 365 days a year. The festive period is often one of the most demanding for counsellors and volunteers; between 24 December 2024 and 4 January 2025, Childline delivered 4,261 counselling sessions.

Young people reach out to Childline for a range of reasons at Christmas, including mental health struggles, family tensions, financial worries, loneliness, and increased risks of abuse or domestic violence. With schools closed and regular support networks unavailable, demand for help typically rises.

Childline relies heavily on donations, fundraising and charitable partnerships. The support of Alan, Maggie and Hywel Peterson, and Nathan and Claire Bowles and their four children, will ensure counsellors are available throughout Christmas Day for any young person who needs them.

Hywel Peterson MBE, Chair of the NSPCC Cymru Fundraising Board, said:
“It’s an honour to help fund Childline across the whole of the UK this Christmas. This joint donation will ensure our dedicated staff and volunteers are there to support any child who needs us.”

Cardiff entrepreneur Nathan Bowles added:
“We know that Christmas can be a difficult time for some children, so our family is delighted to be joining forces with the Petersons this year to support this vital service.”

Louise Israel, Childline team manager at NSPCC Cymru’s Cardiff base, said:
“While children and young people need Childline all year round, we speak to many who find this time of year particularly difficult. It is only with the support of such generous people as the Peterson and Bowles families that our staff and volunteers can continue to be here throughout the Christmas holidays. This kindness will genuinely make a difference.”

Children can call Childline free on 0800 11 11 or visit www.childline.org.uk.
Anyone concerned about a child’s welfare can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or visit www.nspcc.org.uk for advice.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

13 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include: