THREE men have been sentenced to eight years and one month each after luring a man to a remote location in west Wales, where they kidnapped and assaulted him in a carefully orchestrated scheme.

Mohammad Comrie, 22, of Leeds; Faiz Shah, 22, of Bradford; and Elijah Ogunnubi-Sime, 20, of Croydon, deceived a London-based music producer into travelling to Carmarthenshire on August 26, 2024, under the false pretense of attending a music recording camp. Once there, the victim was subjected to significant violence and restrained with handcuffs.

The perpetrators had arranged the trip using a fabricated music production and recording company, leading the victim to believe he was meeting fellow musicians for a legitimate session.

While his captors were out of the room, the victim managed to escape by lifting his handcuffed hands over a pole to free himself. He fled the property and was later taken to hospital with injuries to his face and head.

The three men attempted to evade capture but were found hiding in fields near the property in Brynteg, Llanybydder. Police responded swiftly, deploying significant resources, including a helicopter, to locate them following reports of an assault.

All three were arrested and later charged. They pleaded guilty to kidnapping on the first day of their trial at Swansea Crown Court on February 18. Additional charges of unlawful wounding and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent were ordered to lie on file.

Inspector Gareth Jones, Deputy Senior Investigating Officer, said: “This offence has had a profound and lasting impact on the victim and his family. It was a meticulously planned crime, involving false identities and deception.

“Early messages between the defendants revealed their ultimate intention to kidnap the victim. Their motive appeared two-fold: to extort money from him and to act on political and racial motivations.

“I commend the investigative team for their determination and professionalism, as well as the officers who carried out an extensive and difficult search to locate the defendants and recover crucial evidence. Securing justice for the victim has remained our priority.

“I also extend my gratitude to the Community Security Trust (CST) for providing the victim with vital psychological and emotional support.

“Today’s sentences reflect the severity of this crime and the ordeal suffered by the victim. We hope this outcome brings him a sense of justice, and we thank him for his bravery and patience throughout this investigation.”

THE SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP will remain on free-to-air television in the UK until at least 2029 following a landmark new agreement between the BBC and ITV. The deal, announced today, ensures that rugby fans across the country can continue watching the prestigious tournament without needing a subscription service.

The agreement follows months of speculation that the tournament could move behind a paywall, with TNT Sports expressing interest in bidding for the rights. The BBC and ITV’s renewed partnership secures accessibility for the competition for the next four years, preserving the tradition of free-to-air coverage.

NEW BROADCASTING AGREEMENT

Under the new agreement, which runs from 2026 to 2029:

ITV will broadcast ten live matches each season, including all of England’s fixtures. These will be available across ITV1, ITVX, STV, and STV Player, with highlights and exclusive content shared via ITV Sport’s digital platforms.

BBC will air five live matches each season, covering Wales, Scotland, and Ireland’s home games. The broadcaster will also retain audio commentary rights for all Six Nations matches on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio, and online platforms.

BBC will continue to be the exclusive home of the Women’s Six Nations and U20 Six Nations.

REACTIONS FROM BROADCASTERS AND RUGBY OFFICIALS

The new agreement has been widely welcomed, with key figures from the BBC, ITV, and Six Nations Rugby celebrating the deal as a significant victory for fans and the sport’s growth.

BBC Cymru Wales Director Rhuanedd Richards described the news as “wonderful” for Welsh rugby supporters:

“I have always been a passionate advocate for keeping the Six Nations on free-to-air television, and I’m so pleased that the BBC, working with ITV, has ensured this can continue for the next four years. The viewing figures speak for themselves—hundreds of thousands tune in to watch these incredible tournaments, and we look forward to bringing the very best coverage to Welsh audiences.”

ITV Director of Sport Niall Sloane highlighted the importance of keeping the tournament accessible:

“This is a monumental deal for rugby fans and ITV, ensuring the Guinness Men’s Six Nations Championship stays on free-to-air television. We are proud to be the home of all England matches for the duration of the deal, including England’s much-revered clashes with Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The tournament is always one of the sporting highlights of the year.”

BBC Sport Director Alex Kay-Jelski added: “This deal is fantastic news for rugby and the BBC, keeping the sport accessible for as many people as possible. We are proud to bring the biggest sporting moments to our audiences, and this new deal is the perfect news ahead of our exclusive coverage of the Women’s Rugby World Cup this summer.”

First Minister Eluned Morgan said: “This is great news for rugby fans across Wales and the future of the game here in general. 

“We have consistently advocated that the Six Nations should remain free-to-air so the majority of the Welsh population are able to enjoy and be inspired by this special tournament. 

“There’s no question that rugby, and the Six Nations, are of significant cultural importance to Wales and we hope to see today’s good rugby news extend into the weekend and the Super Saturday match against England!”

WHY THIS DEAL MATTERS

The announcement comes amid growing concerns about the financial state of Welsh rugby and the accessibility of the sport to future generations. The deal ensures that audiences across the UK will continue to watch Six Nations rugby for free, protecting one of the sport’s most valuable showcases.

Recent pressure from politicians, including a campaign by the Liberal Democrats, had called for the Six Nations to be added to the UK’s “Category A” list of sporting events that must remain on free-to-air television. While the tournament is not yet protected by this status, the new agreement safeguards its availability for the next four years.

Tom Harrison, CEO of Six Nations Rugby, emphasised the significance of the deal: “The significance of these new and innovative free-to-air partnerships for the Six Nations cannot be overstated. By strengthening rugby’s relationships with ITV and BBC, the sport can continue to give as many fans as possible access to enjoy live coverage of the Six Nations.”

“The commercial environment in which rugby is operating is extremely challenging, and the battle for audience attention has never been greater. But the Six Nations stands alongside the very greatest occasions in world sport, which is reflected by these partnerships.”

FUTURE OF RUGBY BROADCASTING

The deal also reaffirms the BBC and ITV’s commitment to rugby at a time when more sports are shifting toward pay-per-view models.

ITV’s sports rights portfolio includes other major events such as the Men’s FIFA World Cup 2026, Men’s Euros 2028, The FA Cup, and the Carabao Cup.

BBC Sport’s portfolio includes the Olympic Games, Women’s Euros 2025, Women’s Super League, Wimbledon, and the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.

The decision to keep the Six Nations free-to-air reflects the tournament’s significance to UK sports culture. The competition regularly attracts millions of viewers, and its continued accessibility ensures that rugby remains at the heart of the sporting calendar for fans across all backgrounds.

For now, supporters can breathe a sigh of relief—Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, and Italy will continue battling for Six Nations glory live on BBC and ITV, without the need for a subscription.

HAVERFORDWEST Magistrates’ Court will hear cases against hundreds of defendants next week as Pembrokeshire County Council seeks liability orders for unpaid council tax and non-domestic rates.

The session, scheduled for Monday (Mar 17) at 10:00am, will see a block of cases between 12:00pm and 1:00pm dedicated to council tax disputes. The council is applying for liability orders under regulation 34 of the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992.

A total of 341 defendants are listed for non-payment of council tax, while a further 18 cases relate to unpaid non-domestic rates under Regulation 12 of the Non-Domestic Rating (Collection and Enforcement) (Local Lists) Regulations 1989.

Liability orders allow the council to take further enforcement action, which may include deductions from wages or benefits, bailiff action, or bankruptcy proceedings.

The Herald will provide further updates following the hearing.