Zyla the fun-loving feline had a day to remember on Monday after climbing on the chassis of a recovery truck parked close to her home in Neyland.

After curling up into a cosy little ball, the 14-year-old cat found herself being whizzed around the roads of Pembrokeshire. And her journey continued on into the evening.

Just before 7pm, when the truck driver returned to Neyland, he heard some plaintive little cries coming from beneath his vehicle.

“They were quite loud cries, and when my partner went to investigate, this little beauty made an appearance,” said the recovery driver’s partner, Emma Louise James.

“We’ve no idea how she managed to stay securely on the vehicle throughout the afternoon because the truck had been on recoveries over quite a wide area including Whitland, Haverfordwest and Clarbeston Road.”.
Despite appearing to be uninjured, Emma decided to take the cat to the local vets in order that she could be scanned for a microchip.  They also put photographs of her on social media, hoping that her owner would recognise her and come forward. 

Sure enough, after no fewer than 1,700 shares, her owner, Paula Busby, was able to breathe a sigh of relief when she learned that her precious little Zyla was safe and well.

“This was one of the best presents I could have had,” Paula told The Herald.

“The last time I saw Zyla was mid afternoon on Monday.  I slipped out for a few hours but when I came back,the alarm bells immediately started ringing because Zyla always responds to the whistle.  But when I blew the whistle, there was no sign of her.”

Paula’s concerns were exacerbated by the fact that a few days previously, little Zyla had suffered a seizure and was booked in to see the vet.

“So in many ways, her adventure has been something of a blessing,” continued Paula.  “While she was at the vets she had another fit which enabled the vet to carry out some tests which confirmed that she has epilepsy.  So from now on she’s on medication to help her.

“When you consider how long she spent underneath the recovery truck, it really is a miracle that she survived.  From now on we shall be keeping a very close eye on her.

“We’re just so grateful to the hundreds of people who shared the post on Facebook and of course to Emma and her partner for doing everything they could to help little Zyla.

“She really is a miracle.”

A LAMPHEY man has been sentenced for stealing £1,300 in cash and bank cards from passengers’ bags on the Tenby-Pembroke Dock train.

The court heard that on August 11, Luke Brummit, 46, removed two rucksacks from the luggage rack and searched them.

“The defendant took the bags into another carriage, searched them, and removed a purse and wallet before leaving the bags beneath the seat,” Crown Prosecutor Derek Davies told magistrates.

Brummit also admitted stealing £86.06 worth of items, including two legs of lamb and bottles of beer, from Sainsbury’s in Tenby on September 19.

Defence solicitor Tom Lloyd said Brummit has since taken steps to address his behaviour: “He’s doing better than he’s ever done and is working to improve his conduct.”

Magistrates imposed an 18-month community order, including 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and a 120-day alcohol monitoring programme. Brummit must pay £1,300 compensation to the victim, £86.06 to Sainsbury’s, a £114 court surcharge, and £85 in costs.

A FORMER refinery worker has been sentenced after harassing his ex-partner by dumping rubbish in her garden and shouting through her letterbox.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard that on June 14, at around 6:20am, Kyle Allerton, 29, arrived at Leah Jenkins’ property in Milford Haven after attempting to call and text her earlier that morning.

“He rang her at around 6:00am, then turned up at her property at 6:22am,” Crown Prosecutor Derek Davies said.

“He shouted through the letterbox, demanding she come to the door or window to talk to him. He then emptied bins over her garden before driving off in a white van.”

Jenkins said in her victim impact statement: “I feel harassed by his actions and worried about what he might have done.”

Probation officer Courtney Colman explained that Allerton had struggled to cope with the end of their seven-year relationship, turning to alcohol as a coping mechanism.

“He was drinking up to ten cans a day, which contributed to his losing his job at the refinery,” she said.

Allerton pleaded guilty to harassment. Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order, including 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 10 hours of unpaid work. He must pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 in costs.