News

Play project delights Pembrokeshire young carers

Published

9 years ago

November 21, 2016

actionforchildren_39122113367 A PILOT project aimed at helping young carers aged 8-14 gain a clearer understanding of the fundamentals of play has proved a huge success with children and young people from Action for Children’s Pembrokeshire Young Carers service.

A project evaluation report found that nearly 80% knew more about play and its benefits as a result of the session and 100% wanted more sessions on the subject with more than 50% saying they were now more likely to go out and play with friends or family.

The project was coordinated at Pembroke Dock Youth Centre by Action for Children, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Play Sufficiency Officer, Damion Golding and Groundwork Wales’ Sustainable Play Team with the aim of helping the young carers appreciate the value of play and how it can benefit their own, as well as their siblings’, physical and mental health, well-being and social and emotional development, thereby increasing their quality of life.

The activities comprised of hula hoop making, den making, messy play – which included preparing their own ‘gloo’ and ‘play dough’ mix, preparing and cooking their own healthy pizza, fruit and soup and team games.

Charlotte Phillips, Action for Children’s service coordinator for Pembrokeshire Young Carers said: ‘Young carers carry a burden of responsibility that cannot be overestimated in caring for their families. It’s vital that they don’t lose the ability to play and just be children.

‘This project encouraged our young carers to appreciate that play can bring families closer together and strengthen parent-child / lead young carer – sibling relationships. It also helped them increase their independent mobility which improves opportunities to explore the world around them. I’m thrilled our carers reacted so positively to the project and we shall explore how we can involve more of our young carers across Pembrokeshire in this important work.’

News

Pembroke Dock man sent to Crown Court over alleged ABH assault

Published

6 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Charge relates to incident in the town last weekend

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been sent to the Crown Court for trial after appearing before magistrates accused of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Darren Markes, aged 47, of High Street, Pembroke Dock, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard that Markes is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to the Offences Against the Person Act.

The charge relates to an alleged incident on Friday (Dec 13) in Pembroke Dock, when it is alleged that Markes assaulted a woman, causing her actual bodily harm.

No plea was entered at the hearing.

Due to the seriousness of the allegation, magistrates declined jurisdiction and ordered that the case be sent to the Crown Court for trial under the Crime and Disorder Act.

Markes was remanded on conditional bail. Conditions include:

Not contacting a witness, directly or indirectly
Reporting to Pembroke Dock police station every Wednesday between 12:00pm and 2:00pm
Living and sleeping each night at his home address

He is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Jan 16) at 9:30am for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Crime

Aberystwyth man denies criminal damage charge over Cardigan gallery window

Published

6 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Alleged incident said to have taken place on Bridge Street

AN ABERYSTWYTH man has denied a charge of criminal damage relating to an alleged incident in Cardigan.

Ricky Myers, aged 27, of Jasper House, Aberystwyth, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard that Myers is accused of criminal damage to property valued under £5,000, contrary to the Criminal Damage Act 1971.

The charge relates to an incident on Saturday (Aug 24, 2024) at Manchester House on Bridge Street, Cardigan, where it is alleged that a window at the Cardigan Gallery was damaged. The property is said to belong to Peter Austin.

Myers pleaded not guilty to the allegation.

Magistrates adjourned the case for further case management, and Myers was remanded on conditional bail, with a condition that he live and sleep each night at his home address.

He is due to return to court at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 17) at 2:00pm.

Crime

Pembroke Dock man remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on string of offences

Published

6 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Harassment charge and three assaults among cases listed for Llanelli court

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing after admitting a series of offences, including harassment and assaults.

Tony Brundrett, aged 21, of Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard Brundrett has pleaded guilty to harassment without violence, contrary to the Protection from Harassment Act. The charge alleges that between Tuesday (Sep 17) and Thursday (Oct 31) at Spring View, Pembroke Dock, he pursued a course of conduct amounting to harassment of a female, including attending her home address and contacting her by text message.

He has also admitted assault by beating against the same female, alleged to have taken place on Wednesday (May 21) at Spring View, Pembroke Dock, and a further assault by beating against a second female on Thursday (Oct 30), also at Spring View.

Magistrates were additionally told that Brundrett faces a further allegation of common assault against a third female, said to have occurred on Tuesday (Dec 9) at Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock. No plea was recorded to that matter in the register entry.

Brundrett has also pleaded guilty to a number of offences linked to an incident in Haverfordwest on Saturday (Nov 16). These include:

Aggravated vehicle taking, involving a Vauxhall Corsa, with damage caused before recovery
Using a motor vehicle without insurance
Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence
Criminal damage, involving a window belonging to Pembrokeshire County Council

He was remanded in custody, with the next hearing listed at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 31) at 10:00am.