News

Council Leader Jamie Adams fears £19m schools funding will be lost

Published

10 years ago

May 16, 2016

Schools protest at County Hall last year

COUNCIL leader Jamie Adams has expressed his concern that, as a result of last Thursday’s vote (May 12) by councillors, the authority will have to forgo the opportunity of 21^st Century Schools funding from the Welsh Government.

Describing the potential loss of funding as ‘a travesty’ he went on to say that the ramifications of councillors’ rejection of the Education Department’s plans for Haverfordwest’s secondary schools and post-16 provision for students in the county town, would be felt around the county.

However, Cllr Adams moved quickly to allay fears that existing projects – such as, the new Welsh Medium School in Haverfordwest; the expansion of services at Ysgol Bro Gwaun; and the school element of the Pembroke Learning Campus – were under threat as a result.

Funding loss fear: Council Leader Jamie Adams

Reflecting on the experience, Cllr Adams told The Herald that he accepted the decision of council members – even though he still felt it was wrong – and acknowledged that the authority could have communicated its case for change better than it had. In particular, he noted that part of the Council’s message may have become garbled or lost in the information that winged backwards and forwards between the local authority and those stakeholders opposed to the its plans.

He was also keen to state unequivocally that he did not see any case for under fire Cabinet member for Education and Children’s Services Sue Perkins to step down.

“It was my decision that I would take the lead on the Haverfordwest proposals, as Sue was dealing with a host of other matters – including other ongoing consultations and reorganisations across Pembrokeshire. With everything that is going on in terms of educational reorganisation at the moment, I think we need certainty and continuity.”

READ MORE IN THIS WEEK’S PEMBROKESHIRE HERALD

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

14 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

20 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

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

Published

36 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

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.