ST KATHARINE and St Peter’s Church in Milford Haven hosted its annual Candlelit Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, bringing together members of the community for a traditional celebration of Christmas.

The service featured readings from the Mayor of Milford Haven, representatives of the Soroptimists, Milford Haven Amateur Operatic Society, the Headteacher and Head Prefects of Milford Haven School, Milford Haven Town Band, and NCI Wooltack Point.

Music for the evening was provided by organist Seimon Morris, Milford Haven Town Band and the Milford Haven Cluster Band, whose performances added to the atmosphere of the candlelit service.

The Friends of St Katharine and St Peter’s Church thanked all those involved and wished the community a happy Christmas.

A MILFORD HAVEN man who strangled his partner during a violent domestic assault before attacking a police officer has been jailed for two years.

Timothy John, aged 38, of Howarth Close, Milford Haven, appeared at Swansea Crown Court after admitting a series of offences arising from an incident in October.

The court heard that John had been arguing with his partner about his drug use when the situation escalated into violence. Prosecutor Craig Jones said the defendant grabbed the woman by the throat and held her in a chokehold for around ten seconds, leaving her struggling to breathe and fearing she would lose consciousness.

During the attack, John also punched and kicked the victim before smashing a glass bong over her head. At the time, the woman was still in her underwear and managed to flee the property and run into the street to seek help.

John also damaged the victim’s mobile phone by biting the screen, rendering it unusable.

Police attended the address the following day to take a statement from the victim and discovered John hiding in a bedroom. When officers attempted to detain him, he assaulted a female police officer, knocking her glasses to the floor, before escaping from the property.

The defendant handed himself in around 24 hours later.

John pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assaulting an emergency worker, criminal damage, and escaping from lawful custody. The court was told he has five previous convictions for six offences, although none for violence.

Defending, Dan Griffiths said John accepted the relationship was over and had been using cocaine at the time of the incident, which had made him paranoid, volatile and unpredictable.

He told the court that John had previously worked as a fisherman, roofer and welder, but had struggled with alcohol and substance misuse. Mr Griffiths added that a pre-sentence report highlighted a difficult upbringing and noted a lack of insight into his offending, with concerns that he attempted to minimise his behaviour.

The defence urged the court to consider a suspended sentence to allow John to work with probation services.

Sentencing, Judge Catherine Richards said the offence involved serious strangulation and a sustained assault on an intimate partner, leaving the victim frightened in her own home.

John was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and made subject to a ten-year restraining order preventing any contact with his former partner.

Dyfed-Powys Police have been asked to provide a custody image of the defendant.

Lifeboat places stricken boat in tow and escorts it safely into East Llanion

ANGLE RNLI lifeboat crew were called out on Tuesday (Dec 16) to assist a fishing vessel experiencing fuel problems off Llanion, near Pembroke Dock.

The volunteer crew were tasked at 3.53pm after reports that a ten-metre fishing vessel, with one person on board, had suffered a fuel issue while close to shore. With the boat at risk of drifting into another vessel, the lifeboat was requested to provide assistance.

The Angle lifeboat launched promptly and arrived on scene around 20 minutes later. After carrying out an assessment, the crew placed the fishing vessel in an alongside tow.

The vessel was then taken the short distance into East Llanion, where it was berthed safely alongside the wall.

Once the situation was resolved and no further assistance was required, the lifeboat crew were stood down and returned to their station. The lifeboat was cleaned, checked and made ready for service again by 5.15pm.