News

Divers clear marine litter from coast

Published

9 years ago

August 19, 2016

GLOBAL animal welfare charity World Animal Protection UK is funding volunteer environmental divers Neptune’s Army of Rubbish Cleaners (NARC) which cleared lost lobster pots, fishing net and rope from the Pembrokeshire coast on August 11 and 12.

Lost or discarded fishing nets, lines and pots, otherwise known as ‘ghost gear’, is a huge global issue for marine animals. A staggering 640,000 tons of ghost gear is lost in our oceans each year. This lost gear continues to catch animals and affects Pembrokeshire wildlife such as the yellow sponge crab, the colourful Ballan wrasse (fish), the bottlenose dolphin and grey seal.

Last year on a similar dive, NARC cleared one tonne of commercial fishing net and 13 lobster pots, 12 of which were still ghost fishing and they anticipate a similarly successful haul this year.

NARC has a passion for clearing litter from the underwater environment in Pembrokeshire and work with local fishermen to identify where pots have been lost.

Once they have located a suitable location, divers descend in buddy pairs armed with scissors, bags, trays and lifting bags.

Dives can last up to an hour in which litter is collected, bagged and sent to the surface for retrieval by a support boat.

World Animal Protection has been supporting the project by funding dives and creating films and other educational materials with local fishermen to show simple tips for preventing gear loss and how to modify pots to limit the impact of ghost fishing.

Christina Dixon, World Animal Protection UK Campaigns Manager, said: “NARC do an incredible job collecting marine litter and keeping the oceans safe and enjoyable for animals and marine users alike. Ghost gear is a massive global problem and our job is to work collaboratively with the fishing industry, environmental groups and policy makers to prevent it happening.”

David Kennard, N.A.R.C Chairman, added: “We work closely with the fishing community to locate the best place to dive, for example, somewhere pots have been lost during winter storms. Lost gear is an issue not just for wildlife but also for the sustainability of local fisheries and biodiversity, so it is great that we are able to collaborate with industry stakeholders so that we can clear the gear and also share ideas to limit loss in the future.”

World Animal Protection UK has been highlighting the efforts of the fishing community to tackle the impact of ghost gear and last year awarded Nigel Sanders, a Swansea-based fisherman, the Sea Change Champion Award for his low-tech pot modification project intended to prevent lost pots from continuing to fish at the end of their life.

The charity has also launched a new film and materials featuring NARC showing how fishermen are helping each other to protect their businesses from ghost gear.

For more information about World Animal Protection UK’s Sea Change campaign, visit www.narc-cc.org.uk.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

9 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

10 hours 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

10 hours 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 A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.