News

Seal photo wins national award for scuba diver

Published

9 years ago

October 28, 2016

Seal of approval: Fran’s photo was highly commended in the BSAC’s Great British Diving photo competition

A SCUBA diver from Pembrokeshire has won national recognition for her photography after coming close up and personal with a grey seal.

The stunning image of the seal was highly commended in the British Sub- Aqua Club’s (BSAC) nationwide Great British Diving photo competition.

The photo, was taken by Fran Hockley, 29, of Stackpole near Pembroke, who is an Open Water Instructor with BSAC’s Cardigan Sub- Aqua Club and also dives with Cardiff University Sub-Aqua Club.

Fran said: “It was a really lucky shot, I was diving with Cardiff University Sub-Aqua Club at Skomer Island, which is a national marine reserve off the coast of Pembrokeshire.

“There were lots of mums with their pups playing around and I took a few shots, but it wasn’t until I got home and had a look at the photos that I realised how well this one had come out, with the seal’s head half above and below the water.

Fran, who has a PhD in Freshwater Biology and works as a freelance dive instructor for the Ministry of Defence, won third prize in the topside category of the BSAC Great British Diving photo competition.

“I’m really delighted,” she said. “Great British Diving is a phrase I completely agree with; I truly believe the UK has the best diving in the world. We have so much wildlife and so many wrecks – there is so much to explore.

“I would encourage anyone who is interested to get involved through their local BSAC club.”

BSAC is the national governing body for scuba diving and is made up of 120 dive centres and 900 plus family friendly and sociable clubs, run by volunteers, up and down the country and abroad. The Duke of Cambridge is the club’s President.

It represents more than 30,000 scuba divers and snorkellers and welcomes new members from complete beginners upwards, including those who have trained with other agencies.

BSAC chief Executive Mary Tetley said: “The BSAC Great British Diving competition was launched to boost the presence of British divers on social media and to show the world just how great British diving really is.

“We had lots of wonderful entries from all over the UK, from divers with huge post-dive smiles, to fantastic wrecks, to many seal and examples of marine life.

“Fran’s photo is really fun and truly shows the spirit of Great British Diving and we are so pleased she entered – it’s a great candid capture.”

Fran, who is originally from Yeovil in Somerset, studied at Westfield Comprehensive School before taking a place at Cardiff University to study for a degree in Ecology in 2008.

While at university, she worked her way up from Ocean Diver to Open Water Instructor, and then took some time out after finishing her PhD when she worked as a dive guide in Egypt before returning to the UK.

The photo competition was run online via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #GreatBritishDiving, between July 15 and October 7.

There were 343 photos entered and more than 2,300 people voted for the picture they thought best encapsulated the spirit of Great British Diving in two categories – topside and underwater.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

11 minutes 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 serious allegations following his appearance in the latest magistrates’ court register.

David Guy, 49, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared in court facing multiple charges, all of which have now been deemed too serious for summary trial.

Guy is charged with several offences arising from the same case file. Although individual charge descriptions were not expanded in open court, the register confirms the allegations include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second assault charge
Criminal damage
A further interpersonal violence allegation
A public order offence

Defendant remanded into custody

Magistrates ruled that their sentencing powers were insufficient and sent the entire case to Swansea Crown Court for trial.

Guy was remanded in custody.

A hearing date will now be fixed administratively by the Swansea Crown Court. Until then, Guy remains remanded.

The Herald will provide updates once the Crown Court listing is confirmed.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

17 minutes 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 of alleged offences including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, 40, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, faces six linked charges arising from incidents reported to have taken place earlier this year. Alcock, who did not enter pleas during the administrative hearings, appeared on several occasions as the court dealt with bail issues and case management.

Multiple assault allegations
The charges listed before magistrates include:
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional strangulation
Common assault of a woman
Criminal damage relating to a domestic incident
Further assault allegations linked to the same complainant
A breach of bail conditions

The court heard that Alcock had previously been granted conditional bail. However, he was brought back before magistrates twice during the same reporting period for alleged breaches of those conditions, resulting in updated bail decisions.

Bail breached — defendant remanded

On two separate entries in the court register, Alcock was listed as having breached his bail, leading magistrates to remand him into custody pending the next hearing. On other dates within the same week, he was again re-released on conditional bail, with strict terms imposed, including restrictions on contact with the complainant and exclusions from certain locations.

He is now remanded on conditional bail with his next appearance set for Swansea Crown Court, where the more serious matters — including the alleged non-fatal strangulation — will be dealt with.

Case sent to Crown Court

Magistrates directed that the case is too serious to be heard locally and must proceed to the Crown Court for trial or sentence.

The Herald understands that all listed charges fall under the same prosecution reference, indicating they form part of a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution. No further details were opened in court at this stage.

Crime

Rogue roofer conned homeowner out of thousands

Published

34 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Caerphilly investigation leads to court conviction

A ROGUE trader from Pembroke has been ordered to pay more than £6,000 after duping a homeowner into handing over thousands for unnecessary roofing work.

Douggie Whitbread, aged twenty-five and living at Coldwell Terrace, Pembroke, persuaded his victim that he “probably needed a new roof” before charging £4,350 for work that was either unnecessary or not carried out properly.

Whitbread admitted two counts of fraud relating to a property on Griffiths Street, Ystrad Mynach, with the offences taking place between August 12 and October 16, 2023.

He appeared before Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court, where he was ordered to pay a total of £6,130. That includes £4,350 in compensation, £1,500 in prosecution costs, a £200 fine, and an £80 victim surcharge.

The case was brought following an investigation by Caerphilly Trading Standards, who urged residents to be cautious of unsolicited offers of home maintenance work.