News
Violent football player jailed
A MONKTON SWIFTS football player who attacked an opponent so violently he broke three bones with a single blow to the face has been jailed today.
Jadey Hearn, aged 31, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm to West Dragons player Kern Cunningham during a match in Division Five of the Pembrokeshire Football League on October 17 last year.
Kevin Jones, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that during the game Hearn was verbally aggressive towards other players, even to his own team mates.
About 35 minutes before the assault Mr Cunningham appealed to the referee for a penalty and Hearn called him a “cheating c***.”
Later in the game the two players clashed as Mr Cunningham, a swimming instructor, attacked the Monkton goal but according to the referee only minimal contact had been involved.
But as Mr Cunningham got to his feet Hearn knocked him out.
Hearn left the pitch even before the referee showed him a red card and later that day walked into a police station to admit what he had done.
Mr Cunningham was taken to Withybush hospital and then to a specialist unit at Swansea’s Morriston hospital where doctors diagnosed fractures to his eye socket, right cheek and nose.
There was a danger, said Mr Jones, that he could have lost his eyesight, although surgeons managed to save it.
Metal plates were used to rebuild the eye socket but Mr Cunningham still suffered the effects six months later.
Mr Jones said Hearn, of Catshole Quarry, Long Mains, Monkton, already had three convictions for violence and a further three cautions.
Hearn’s barrister, Aubrey Sampson, said he had delivered a single blow “in a moment of madness, in the heat of the moment.”
The Judge, Mr Recorder Peter Rouch, said it had been a disgraceful attack committed on a sports field.
Hearn, he added, had not learned anything from his previous convictions for violence.
Hearn, a scaffolder, was jailed for 15 months.
Kern Cunningham told The Herald today: “I am over the moon that justice has been served.”
Crime
Police appeal following garage burglary in Penally
POLICE are appealing for information following a garage burglary in the School Lane area of Penally, which occurred between 8:00pm and 10:30pm on Saturday, November 2, 2024. Various items were taken, including:
- STIHL battery-operated hedge trimmer
- STIHL petrol garden strimmer
- STIHL petrol chainsaw (24-inch)
- STIHL petrol leaf blower
- Two beach casting fishing rods with reels
Anyone with information, or who may have been offered these items for sale, is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police. You can reach them online at Dyfed-Powys Police Contact, via email at [email protected], or by calling 101. For those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired, please text 07811 311 908.
Alternatively, you can provide information anonymously through Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111 or by visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.
Please quote reference number 24000934044.
News
Carmarthenshire fireworks display descends into chaos
A FIREWORKS display at Mynyddygarreg Hall near Kidwelly turned chaotic on Tuesday (Nov 5) as rockets flew into the crowd, hitting spectators and leaving families in distress.
Rhian, a mother at the event, recounted the terrifying experience, stating her children were traumatised after being struck by fireworks. Her seven-year-old son, Oliver, suffered a hit to his neck, while her other son, Charlie, aged eleven, was hit on the ear. “They were coming towards us and going off,” Rhian said. “We didn’t know where to turn, so we rushed back as fast as we could.”
Witnesses reported the incident occurred within three minutes of the display starting, but organisers failed to halt the event. Families expressed frustration, highlighting the lack of safety measures and staff assistance. Danielle Evans, another mother in attendance, shared: “Fireworks were repeatedly coming at us…an announcement should’ve been made for people to leave safely.”
Videos shared on social media depict chaotic scenes, with panicked parents shielding children from fireworks that continued to explode in close proximity. Parents reported hearing “the screams of terrified children and adults,” as they struggled to escape the display area.
Spectators, including a mother whose seven-year-old daughter was nearly hit in the face, are calling for a full investigation, questioning the event’s safety protocols and lack of immediate response. “The organisers displayed complete disregard for public safety,” stated Wendy Pearce, who left the venue after her five-year-old daughter narrowly avoided injury.
Outcry on social media
Attendees have flooded social media with criticism, some suggesting the organisers’ decision to continue the show was a deliberate attempt to avoid issuing refunds. One spectator, Adam Moreton, said: “Staff were just standing at the gate, oblivious to what happened. This needs answers.”
The Herald reached out to event organisers for a statement, but no response was received at the time of publication.
Many attendees are now calling for stricter safety regulations at public fireworks displays. Local parents argue that crowd safety measures, including fire safety officers and first aid staff, should be mandatory.
News
Blaze at Bristol Trader: Emergency services close Quay Street
FIRE crews have been deployed to Quay Street, Haverfordwest, after a blaze broke out at the popular Bristol Trader pub. Several fire engines are at the scene, and it is understood that the fire is under control.
Police have cordoned off the area and are urging the public to avoid the vicinity until further notice.
The Bristol Trader, a well-known riverside pub in Haverfordwest, has been a staple in the community for years, drawing locals and visitors alike. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and no injuries have been reported at this stage.
(Pic: Matthew Forest/Facebook)
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