News
St Davids: Funds raised for Memory Cafe
ON SATURDAY (Oct 22) in blazing autumn sunshine at Oriel y Parc, St Davids, ten brave men from Fishguard and St Davids bared their legs and had them waxed in aid of St Davids Memory Cafe.
The Memory Cafe is an activity for persons suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and their carers and which takes place on the first Wednesday of each month at Oriel y Parc. Here sufferers can enjoy activities such as singing, painting, jigsaws and simply socialising. Although most of the habitués come from North Pembrokeshire, the facility is open to people with dementia from all over the county.
The aim was to raise money through sponsorship and donations in order to buy more musical instruments and other equipment and to offset any other costs incurred by the cafe so that the good work can be continued and extended.
Danni O’Connor from Goodwick brought her equipment and gave freely of her time and expertise. The volunteers came from all walks of life and all stepped up to the mark for what is a very good cause.
[envira-gallery id="29450"]
First to brave the wax was Alan from Fishguard, closely followed by Paddy, George and Mike, also from Fishguard. Then the St Davids men followed, Dafydd, Padraig, Ben, Huw, Geraint and Norman. Dave was unable to come along but he sent his sponsorship money to swell the coffers. There were a few yelps and quite a few winces as legs and backs were exposed without their customary covering of fur. Locals and tourists dropped by to watch the event and many contributed to the funds.
The organisers of the event said: “We are very very grateful to Maria Davies for her initial idea and her tireless encouragement. Thanks to Danni, to the workers from the Memory Cafe, to our ten brave heroes and lastly to all the members of the public who sponsored the victims, donated on line or simply popped money into the collecting tins around the place in Fishguard and St Davids.”
If you would like to make a contribution, donations will be accepted on-line for the next 2 weeks at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Memory-cafe
News
Welsh teenager jailed for creating 3D-printed gun at home
A TEENAGER who assembled parts for a viable semi-automatic firearm using a 3D printer has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison.
Owain Roberts, 19, purchased nuts, bolts, steel barrels, and metal rods online, constructing components of an FGC-9 gun with the aid of a 3D printer.
Detectives said that this case marks the first of its kind in Gwent, where Roberts admitted to manufacturing a firearm component. He appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday (Nov 14).
In April, firearms officers executed warrants at two Newport addresses connected to Roberts. Seized items included a 3D printer, two laptops, six plastic reels, and parts for an FGC-9 firearm.
PC Tom Meazey, from Gwent Police’s East Serious Organised Crime team, stated: “Illegally-held firearms can lead to tragic consequences and devastate innocent people’s lives. To own a firearm, including a printable one, is illegal in the UK without a valid firearms certificate. Roberts’s reckless actions in buying items capable of manufacturing a firearm placed people at direct risk.”
This rare and complex investigation involved support from the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Roberts received a prison sentence of four years and nine months.
News
Milford Haven man caught with indecent images of children spared jail
A MILFORD HAVEN man, Gareth MacDonald, 23, has been sentenced after pleading guilty to downloading over 1,000 indecent images of children.
MacDonald, of Meyler Crescent, was arrested in March 2023 following a police search of his home. Acting on intelligence, officers seized multiple electronic devices, and MacDonald admitted to downloading the illegal images.
Swansea Crown Court heard that MacDonald accessed material spanning all severity categories, including images depicting the rape of pre-teen children.
He reportedly told police he had “become bored with legal pornography” roughly a year prior to his arrest.
Judge Geraint Walters sentenced MacDonald to eight months in prison, suspended for two years. As part of the sentence, MacDonald must:
- Complete 20 rehabilitation activity days
- Participate in the Horizon programme
- Register as a sex offender for 10 years
- Comply with a 10-year sexual harm prevention order
Judge Walters remarked that MacDonald had been accessing illegal content “for some considerable period of time” despite knowing it was wrong.
However, MacDonald, who has health problems, dodged being sent to jail and was able to leave the court a free man.
Crime
Ceredigion man sentenced for selling £150,000 in illegal DVDs
A CEREDIGION man has been sentenced for selling counterfeit DVDs worth £150,000 under major brand names without authorization.
David Robert Thomas, 47, from Sarnau, ran a sophisticated online operation, producing and selling fake DVDs labeled with brands like Netflix, Amazon, Disney, Sony, and Universal City Studios LLC. Thomas used seven different websites and managed multiple bank and PayPal accounts, including those of family members, to carry out his business.
Councillor Matthew Vaux, Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: “Counterfeiting is often thought of as a victimless crime, but it harms the local economy by undermining legitimate businesses that pay taxes and create real jobs. This result sends a clear message that counterfeit sales will not be tolerated, and we will act against offenders.”
Thomas pleaded guilty at Swansea Crown Court on Monday (Nov 11) and was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. His sentence includes a four-month curfew and fifteen Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.
Under the Crime Act 2002, forfeiture proceedings will follow to reclaim the financial benefits from Thomas’s criminal activities. Judge Richards took into account the market value of equivalent genuine goods, the sophisticated setup of Thomas’s business, and his previously clean record in reaching the sentencing decision.
The case was brought forward successfully by Ceredigion County Council’s Trading Standards Service.
-
Business7 days ago
Original Factory Shop to close Haverfordwest branch in December
-
Community7 days ago
Connecting the Coast project celebrates significant achievements in nature recovery
-
News3 days ago
‘Chariots of Fire’ Olympic pianist heads west for recital in local church
-
News4 days ago
Milford Haven RNLI Fundraisers celebrate successful fun run
-
News3 days ago
Ferry diverts to aid yacht after medical emergency alert in Irish Sea
-
Top News3 days ago
“The sense of power and the great surge of energy that this earth provides is all I want my paintings to share”
-
News3 days ago
Pembrokeshire masseuse shortlisted for National UK Beauty Awards 2025
-
Top News2 days ago
Pembrokeshire cottage industry receives UK’s most prestigious business accolade