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Taxi-ride thief locked up

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taxi rideA HAVERFORDWEST man was sent to prison for 14 weeks by the town’s magistrates on Wednesday.

Liam John Matthews, aged 28, of Holloway, pleaded guilty to theft, not paying a taxi fare and criminal damage.

Prosecuting, Nicholas Newton said: “All occurred in the late hours of November 23, running into the early hours of November 24. Matthews got a taxi from Prendergast to Murco petrol station near Withybush Hospital. He told the driver to wait for him while he went inside the garage. While he was in there, he stole sandwiches, milk and alcohol. He was seen by the shop assistant who shouted to him as he left without paying. He then ran from the taxi driver. The police were contacted and Matthews was found in the general area. He was also subject to an electronic tag, which he broke.

“Matthews claims he cannot remember the events due to being intoxicated. He was on a suspended prison sentence at the time of the offence, and was in breach of the order and the curfew”. Defence solicitor, Jonathan Webb said:

“Matthews breached his suspended sentence within one month. If you must activate the sentence, you must activate it today unless you feel it is unjust to do so. You then must decide is it going to be for part of the sentence or all? It is not at the top end of his offences.

“He has children, though he is not allowed contact with them, and as a result is hiding at the bottom of a bottle. When he is not intoxicated, he is the nicest person you would wish to meet. Things got on top of him and he committed petty crimes. They are not serious offences.

“This would be his first taste of a custodial environment. Please bear that in mind. I believe it will do him some good to serve this sentence – it may well be the help he needs to turn a corner”.

The magistrates told the court: “We have listened to his record and we believe Matthews has stretched the legal system to the limit. We will therefore give him four weeks imprisonment for the theft, four weeks imprisonment for making off without paying the taxi fare, and a further four weeks for the criminal damage, all to run concurrently. We are evoking the suspended sentence of 16 weeks, though are giving him credit of two weeks for the early guilty plea”.

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News

Car fire closes Market Street in Haverfordwest

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FIREFIGHTERS were called to tackle a vehicle blaze in the centre of Haverfordwest on Monday afternoon (May 19).

The incident occurred at around 2:50pm on Market Street, where a car was reported to be alaze.

A crew from Haverfordwest Fire Station responded swiftly and brought the fire under control within half an hour. The road was temporarily closed while emergency services dealt with the situation.

A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 2:51pm, firefighters from Haverfordwest attended a car fire on Market Street. The vehicle was well alight on arrival. One hose reel jet, a thermal imaging camera, small tools and a breathing apparatus set were used to extinguish the blaze.

“The crew left the scene at 3:24pm.”

No injuries were reported.

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Education

Excellent progress on the construction of new lower school building at Portfield School

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PUPILS from Portfield School have had the exciting opportunity to leave their mark on history as work continues at pace at their fantastic new school.

The pupils attended an event to mark the reaching of the highest point of the new building, traditionally known as the ‘topping-out’ ceremony. The event gave pupils a chance to sign one of the first steel beams, and leaving handprints on a wall, symbolising their role at the heart of the school community and the bright future ahead.

The event was hosted by Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure Ltd and was attended by staff, pupils, governors, senior Council officers and officers from the project team to celebrate the key milestone.

Headteacher Sarah Hartley said: “We were thrilled to involve our pupils in this important moment. The new building represents a new chapter for Portfield School, and it’s wonderful that our children could be part of its foundations.”

The Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, Cllr. Guy Woodham, said that he was extremely pleased at the progress being made.

“Whilst I was unable to attend the event myself, my colleagues have shared with me their experience of the event, and the excellent progress being made on the new building at the school.

“This development will provide much needed modern, inclusive accommodation for the learners, and I am particularly pleased that the project remains on budget, and on programme, which means that Portfield School will be in a position to move into the building in December 2025.”

Following their visit, pupils made the following comments: “We had to wear protective clothing before entering the building site. Being able to write my name on one of the walls in the new building was really cool. I am very grateful to have been chosen to write my name in the new build it is extremely cool. Even though I am leaving this year my name will be there for ever.”

“Oh it was fun! I put my hand in paint and then put it on the wall.”

The project is being funded by Welsh Government and Pembrokeshire County Council as part of the Sustainable Communities for Learning Capital programme.

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Charity

Woman spared jail after drunken assault on two police officers

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A PEMBROKESHIRE woman battling a complex range of mental health issues has narrowly avoided prison after spitting at and assaulting two police officers while heavily intoxicated.

Elisha Callen, 25, of Glenview Avenue, Pembroke Dock, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week for sentencing after admitting two counts of assaulting emergency workers and being drunk and disorderly in a public place.

The court heard that on April 21, Callen was found in a severely intoxicated state on Larch Road, Milford Haven. Officers attempted to calm her, but she became increasingly aggressive.

“She was told to behave herself, but she failed,” said Crown Prosecutor Dennis Davies.

Following her arrest, Callen lashed out at officers at the station—striking one and spitting in the face of another.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, one of the officers said: “As a police officer, we expect to face conflict on a daily basis, but I don’t expect to be spat on by someone I’ve never met before.”

Callen later told officers she had no recollection of the incident.

Her solicitor, Tom Lloyd, urged magistrates to impose a suspended sentence, arguing she had significant mental health issues and was engaging with support services.

“Letting her attempt to seek help on her own hasn’t worked,” he said. “If you look at the marks on her neck and hands, you can see this is someone with far more going on than just anxiety and depression.”

“This is an individual with complex needs who is extremely upset by what happened and wants to apologise to every officer involved,” he added.

Magistrates imposed an 18-week custodial sentence, suspended for 24 months. Callen must also comply with a mental health treatment requirement, attend 25 rehabilitation activity days with drug and alcohol support, and complete a 120-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement.

“I can’t emphasise enough that this is your last chance,” the presiding magistrate warned. “You’ve come that close to custody.”

Callen was also ordered to pay £85 costs, a £154 victim surcharge, and £100 in compensation to each of the two officers.

As she left court, Callen said: “Thank you so much. This won’t happen again. I just need support.”

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