News

Army and Jobcentre combine to combat unemployment

Published

12 years ago

January 31, 2014

A CAMPAIGN to attract thousands of new recruits to the British Army will target job seekers in Wales with a series of Jobcentre Plus recruitment clinics throughout January. The clinics come as research reveals unemployed people are only half as likely as those already working to consider a job in the Army.

According to research commissioned by the British Army and carried out by One Poll, just one in 20 unemployed people said they would consider signing up to the Army, compared with one in 10 employed people who said they viewed it as a potential career choice.

The Army’s new campaign — ‘More than Meets the Eye’– aims to highlight the huge range of full-time and part-time careers available, with thousands of different roles on offer across hundreds of jobs. Some of the jobs currently open to new recruits include bricklayers, communications specialists, logistics, drivers, welders, veterinary technicians, musicians, environment health technicians, health care assistants and infantry soldiers.

Jobcentre Plus in Wales is supporting the British Army in its recruitment drive, and will be hosting clinics at various Jobcentre Plus locations including Cardiff, Newport and Mold throughout January.

People will be able to speak to serving members of the Regular Army and Army Reserve, get more information about the wide variety of roles available to new recruits and find out about the online application process. Potential recruits will be able to talk to local careers advisors about what they could gain from joining the Army.

Brigadier Andrew Jackson, Director of Training and Recruitment for the British Army, said:

“Regardless of their skills or background, young people who are interested in taking on a challenging and exciting new career should look at the hundreds of opportunities we have across the Army and Army Reserve. We want to do as much as we can to encourage potential recruits to come forward and find out more about what’s on offer.

“There is so much more to learn in the Army and Army Reserve than combat and military skills, and we are always recruiting. With the support of Jobcentre Plus, these clinics will provide a great opportunity for us to reach out to job seekers face-to-face and help them make the first step towards a successful Army career.

“I would urge anyone in Scotland who’s looking for a new career challenge to head down to one of our many Army Careers Centres and speak to our recruiting team.”

Neil Couling, Director for Jobcentre Plus, said:

“With the economy growing, there are lots of opportunities out there for jobseekers and we are always looking for innovative ways to work with recruiters to help people find their perfect career, or help them move into a new role. Following a similar programme of Army clinics last year, more than 100 events in Jobcentres across the country will be held over the next few weeks to make sure jobseekers are aware that the Army is recruiting.”

Anyone aged upward of 16 can apply for a job in the Army, or 18 for the Army Reserve, regardless of background, skills, or experience. There is no one type of person that the Army is looking to recruit, and the current campaign aims to show there is a role to suit everyone.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

49 minutes 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

1 hour 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

1 hour 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.