News

Tragic death of university field trip student at Dale

Published

9 years ago

October 28, 2016

Tom Sinclair

West Dale Beach

AN INQUEST into the death of a 20-year-old man was held at Milford Haven Town Hall yesterday (Oct 27).

James Thomas Manto, of London, died on May 7 this year; he had been part of a university field trip to Pembrokeshire with Plymouth University. Family members were present at the inquest.

Mr Manto had been staying at Dale Fort; he was found face down and unresponsive on Dale Beach.

In his second year of a geology course, Mr Manto was described as having ‘no concerns and was looking forward to the future’. His mother had been in contact with him on social media while he was in Pembrokeshire; he had told her how he was ‘really enjoying the field trip’.

The night prior to Mr Manto’s death (May 6) marked the final night of the field trip – students and lecturers had arranged to go into the village of Dale for food and drinks.

Statements read by students and lecturers recalled that Mr Manto was ‘highly intoxicated’ on the night leading up to his death the following morning. Members of staff at The Griffin Inn had asked Mr Manto to leave the premises.

Mr Manto was last seen standing outside The Griffin Inn at around 2am (May 7).

By 8.30am that morning, lecturers informed staff at Dale Fort that they had a student missing; the police were also informed.

A search party was launched by police, with the help of RNLI lifeboats and a helicopter search party.
Mr Manto was found by members of the RNLI, with police reporting they had located a missing body at around 11.15am; Mr Manto had suffered severe lacerations.

RNLI crew members attempted to resuscitate Mr Manto for 20 minutes. This was followed by the arrival of a Coastguard vessel carrying a defibrillator, after which crew members attempted a further 10 minutes of CPR. The inquest also heard how ‘attempts were made to inject adrenaline into his groin’.

An Air Ambulance was also called to the scene. A statement by winch man and paramedic Austin Harley was read during the inquest.

Mr Harley recalled how he and other crew members had been ‘instructed to respond’ to the incident following a training exercise; little information had been given other than ‘male with head injury’.

When Mr Harley arrived at the scene, he recalled how several emergency services were already present.

An ambulance had been waiting on the shoreline; however, Mr Harley made the decision that Mr Manto needed to be airlifted to hospital.

He recalled: “On three occasions we were instructed to shock the patient, which we did.”

Mr Manto was later pronounced dead in hospital.

The post mortem report was also read during the inquest, described by Coroner Gareth Lewis as ‘difficult reading’, and therefore only provided relevant details of the report.

The post mortem labelled Mr Manto’s death as ‘unnatural’, adding that he had suffered several injuries included ‘blunt head trauma’ and ‘left rib fractures’, as well as ‘multiple injuries to the head and chest’.

It also suggested that such injuries ‘may have been caused by a fall from height’, and concluded that ‘the cause of death was multiple injuries’.

Mr Matthew Watkinson, a lecturer on the field trip who had known Mr Manto since the start of his course, was called to give a statement during the inquest.

He described Mr Manto as ‘in a group and highly intoxicated’ on the night of May 6.

He recalled: “I saw James leave the pub but didn’t see where he went.”

Coroner Lewis went on to ask Mr Watkinson if the university had learned any lessons for future field trips: “Has the university implemented any procedures?”

Mr Watkinson said how the university had held several meetings between senior staff.

He said: “We looked particularly at how to further encourage students to be responsible regarding alcohol intake.”

Mr Watkinson also added the students would be reminded of their ‘responsibility to one another’.

He added: “I’d specifically briefed the students that afternoon about responsibility and being mindful of the local people.

“In my heart, I wish I’d come across him and was able to bring him home.”

Following his statement, Mr Manto’s mother questioned Mr Watkinson as to why her son had not been escorted home, given his intoxicated state.

Mr Watkinson replied: “My view of James at the time was he was with a large group of students.”

He added: “I didn’t think it was a situation where he’d be a danger to himself.”

Several statements by other students on the field trip were also read. They described Mr Manto as ‘swaying’ and ‘unsteady on his feet’. Commenting on Mr Manto’s character more generally, it was said he was found to be ‘very quiet’ and ‘shy’.

In his concluding statement, Coroner Lewis said: “We can only speculate as to what happened in those last few moments.”

With reference to Mr Manto’s injuries being consistent to those of a heavy fall, Mr Lewis stated the death was ‘accidental’, adding: “James Manto died as a result of an accident.”

Community

St David’s Day parade brings colour and celebration to Haverfordwest

Published

3 days ago

February 27, 2026

Tom Sinclair

HAVERFORDWEST town centre was a hive of activity today (Friday, Feb 27) as hundreds of children from schools across Pembrokeshire took part in a special St David’s Day celebration.

The popular parade, organised by the Pembrokeshire Language Forum, returned to the county town once again, with smiles all round from participants and spectators who lined the streets to watch.

Children paraded down High Street, through Bridge Street and along Quay Street, led by Samba Doc, before gathering at Picton Playing Fields for songs and dancing during an open-air jamboree with entertainer Tomos Tanllyd.

Pembrokeshire County Council Leader Cllr Jon Harvey said: “St David’s Day is always a special occasion in Pembrokeshire, and it was wonderful to see so many young people coming together to celebrate our language, culture and national identity.”

Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, Cllr Guy Woodham added: “The annual St David’s Day parade is a shining example of what schools in Pembrokeshire do to celebrate the Welsh language and culture, and they are certainly enthusiastic about it.”

Council Vice Chairman and Champion for the Welsh Language and Children and Young People, Cllr Delme Harries said: “It was fantastic to see such enthusiasm from pupils across the county, proudly celebrating St David’s Day.”

Local member Cllr Tom Tudor also praised the event, adding: “It really was a great celebration of St David’s Day and a highlight for Haverfordwest.”

Welsh Language Development Officer Catrin Phillips said the event continues to grow each year.

She said: “The St David’s Day parade, organised by the Pembrokeshire Language Forum, is always a highlight of the year and it’s wonderful to bring schools together to celebrate Welsh language and culture in such a joyful way.

“It has been especially encouraging to see new schools joining us this year, helping the event continue to grow.”

Crime

Axe gang stormed home as couple feared they would be killed, court hears

Published

4 days ago

February 26, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Five masked men smashed their way into property during terrifying late-night raid

A COUPLE feared they were about to be murdered when a masked gang armed with axes burst into their home, a jury at Swansea Crown Court has heard.

Five men dressed in dark clothing and balaclavas forced entry to the property shortly before 9:00pm on May 29, 2021, in what prosecutors say was a planned aggravated burglary. An emergency call was made at 8:51pm.

Prosecutor Mr Wright read to jurors a police statement from homeowner David Davies, who said he had been sitting with his partner, Carmen Bailey, when he heard loud banging at the front door.

“As I got to the entrance, the glass in the door was smashed and the men came through,” he said.

He described five intruders, all carrying axes. One of the men shouted: “Lay face down on the floor.”

Moments later, another voice yelled: “She’s on the phone,” after Ms Bailey contacted police. A further shout of “Let’s go boys” was then heard before the gang fled.

Mr Davies told officers that drawers throughout the property had been opened. Around £3,000 hidden in a spare room was not discovered, but two £50 notes were stolen along with a sanitary item and a Lloyds Bank paying-in book.

He attempted to follow the men as they left and saw the rear of a white SUV. Although his mobile phone had been smashed, it was still functioning.

In a later statement he described one suspect carrying a yellow-and-black rubber-handled axe, adding that another man “hopped out like a kangaroo” as he entered the property.

Ms Bailey said she was left utterly traumatised by the ordeal.

“I was absolutely petrified,” she said. “I felt like I was going to get murdered.”

She told police she could only see the men’s eyes through their balaclavas as she grabbed the house phone and called emergency services. A male voice shouted: “Where’s the money?”

The force of the attack shattered glass up to two metres into the hallway, the court heard.

A third witness, Doreen Jones, said she had phoned Mr Davies during the incident and heard male voices shouting: “Get down, get down.”

The investigation

Jurors were told that a white Nissan Juke — stolen in the Manchester area and fitted with cloned number plates — was later recovered near Paradise Nightclub in Pontardawe after the registration plates had been removed.

Several other men have already pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, but Mohammed Mills and Michael Quinn deny involvement.

When Mills was arrested, officers recovered £235 in cash and a black iPhone. A vehicle linked to him was searched, leading to the discovery of a machete with an orange handle, black gloves and a balaclava.

Quinn was arrested in November 2021. Officers recovered a gold iPhone and a machete, while a large knife was found under his bed at home. A Nokia handset seized from him contained very little data, most of which had been deleted.

Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras placed vehicles linked to the defendants in the Bryncethin area at 6:40pm. Both vehicles were later seen at McDonald’s in Morriston at 7:35pm and at a Tesco service station at 8:32pm — around twenty minutes before the burglary.

There is no CCTV footage of the break-in itself.

The prosecution case

The prosecution allege the burglary was carefully planned, including what they describe as a “dry run” the previous day. They say the vehicles travelled together from Manchester and that the meeting in the area had been pre-arranged.

Jurors were told telecommunications evidence, including phone activity and satnav data, places devices linked to the defendants in relevant locations.

The defence

Mills claims he had recently started taxi work and was paid to drive men to Wales, saying he did not know their intentions. He denies wearing a balaclava and says the machete recovered was not his. His barrister told the court he cooperated fully with police and provided access to his phone.

Quinn maintains he travelled to Wales to sell his Vauxhall Insignia and denies any knowledge of the burglary. He says the knife found under his bed was used for dismantling furniture.

The judge reminded jurors that emotion must play no part in their deliberations and that the verdict is theirs alone.

The trial continues.

News

NRW invites feedback on draft decision to issue Withyhedge landfill permit variation

Published

4 days ago

February 26, 2026

Tom Sinclair

NATURAL RESOURCES WALES (NRW) is seeking public feedback after reaching a draft decision to approve changes to the environmental permit for the Withyhedge Landfill site in Pembrokeshire.

Following what it described as a detailed technical assessment, NRW said it is “minded to” grant a permit variation requested by the site operator, Resources Management UK Ltd. The variation would amend the environmental permit that controls how the site operates (permit number EPR/MP3330WP, application reference PAN-025929).

A four-week public consultation has now opened and will run until Thursday, March 26, 2026. NRW said all responses will be considered before any final decision is made.

The operator is proposing several changes, including alterations to the final shape of the land once the landfill is capped, updates to monitoring and management arrangements for groundwater, surface water and leachate, and the addition of up to 50,000 tonnes of waste soils for restoration purposes under a new waste recovery activity.

The application also includes consolidation and modernisation of the permit, including a review of existing improvement and pre-operational conditions.

NRW said it considers the proposed changes acceptable and believes they could help ensure the site operates without causing harm to the environment or nearby communities.

Residents are being encouraged to provide feedback on issues such as emissions, potential health impacts, environmental risks and how waste is managed at the site.

However, NRW stressed that certain matters fall outside its remit and cannot be considered as part of the consultation. These include planning issues handled by the local authority, such as the site’s location, traffic levels, visual impact, land use, access arrangements and operating hours.

Huwel Manley, Head of South West at Natural Resources Wales, said: “We know the community has a long-standing interest in what happens at Withyhedge Landfill, and we take that responsibility seriously.

“Given the history of the site and the concerns people have previously raised, we promised to take an approach that goes further than our usual consultation process for a permit variation.

“Being ‘minded to’ issue this variation means our specialists are satisfied the operator can meet the required standards, but before we make any final decision we want to hear from the people who live and work nearby. We encourage anyone with an interest in the site to take part in the consultation.”

Details of the draft decision and information on how to submit comments are available via NRW’s Consultation and Engagement Hub.