News

People betrayed over bid for Euro cash

Published

12 years ago

January 23, 2014

MID AND WEST AM Simon Thomas has described the dismissal of any possibility of emergency European funds for storm hit areas in west Wales by Welsh Secretary David Jones as a betrayal.

Conservative Secretary of State for Wales David Jones has suggested that the Treasury was unlikely to release extra money for flood hit areas and he doubted EU funds would be available. He argued that it was up to the Welsh Government to help with the clear up.

Plaid Cymru AM Simon Thomas said: “This refusal by the Secretary State for Wales to bid for emergency Euro cash is a betrayal of the people in west Wales hit by the recent storms. It really calls into question his suitability for such a role.

“He should be standing up for the people of Wales and making the case for extra help for those who have lost their livelhoods and homes. By refusing to prepare the case for additional money from Westminster and Europe he is betraying the very people he is supposed to represent around the UK cabinet table.

“Welsh MEP Jill Evans has pointed out it is the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition that is responsible to bid for money from the European Union solidarity fund. This Tory-led government’s idealogical zeal against all things European means we continue to lose out from money that is rightfully ours to help communities clearing up after flooding.

“The blame game between the Welsh Government and Westminster about who should pay for the aftermath of the storms shows why we continue to need strong Plaid Cymru representation to put Wales first everytime.”

News

Hakin motorist banned after driving 14 times over drug limit

Published

10 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A HAKIN motorist has been banned from driving for three years after being caught behind the wheel with cocaine and benzoylecgonine in his system.

Mark Briskham, 53, of Waterloo Square, Wellington Road, Hakin, was stopped by police on January 5 as he drove a Ford Kuga along Steynton Road, near Milford Haven.

Blood tests carried out at the police station showed he had 800mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

He also had 64mcg of cocaine in his system. The legal limit is 10mcg.

Briskham pleaded guilty to two drug-driving charges when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for three years, taking into account a previous drug-drive conviction from 2020.

He was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.cr

Crime

Begelly man remanded over alleged May Day assault

Published

10 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been remanded in custody following an alleged May Day assault against a woman in Begelly.

Tomas Baker, 34, of Ty Dee, New Road, Begelly, is accused of assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, at an undisclosed location in Begelly on May 1.

Baker appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week by video link from Swansea Prison.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His trial will take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on June 22.

Crime

Waterston man denies child rape and sexual assault charges

Published

10 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A WATERSTON man has appeared before magistrates charged with 13 sexual offences against children, including three allegations of raping a girl under the age of 13.

Chaisee Price, 25, of Biggins Hill, Waterston, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

He faces three charges of raping a girl under 13, eight charges of sexually assaulting girls aged between five and eight, and two charges of intentionally inciting girls under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2014 and 2019.

Price denied all charges.

Because of the seriousness of the allegations, magistrates declined jurisdiction and the case will now proceed to Swansea Crown Court on July 10.

Price was released on conditional bail.

The conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 6:00pm and 6:00am, no contact with the prosecution witness, no unsupervised contact with children under 18, and a requirement to surrender his passport to police.