News
Suspended jail term after ‘shocking’ rabbit neglect
A 43-YEAR-OLD man from Narberth appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Feb 13) after he neglected 22 domestic rabbits.
Andrew Michael Williams, of High Street, pleaded guilty to the charge.
Prosecutor, John Tarrant, told the court: “On October 8, 2016, an inspector attended High Street in Narberth. They saw at the back of the property there was a terraced garden with huches and a yellow garden bucket. In the lower section of the garden there were three blocks of hutches with live and dead rabbits.
“There was some water but no food, and the inspector contacted the police.”
Mr Tarrant continued: “The inspectors and veterinarians arrived and gained entry with police assistance. Williams had been drinking heavily, and on entering, the property was unkempt and there was rabbit faeces on the floor. They called out but had no reply, and found Williams on the bed in a drunken state.
“There were no sheets and vomit was present, as well as 20-30 vodka botles and decaying food.”
Mr Tarrant explained that there were rabbits loose in the hallway, and as the inspectors approached they ran into the garden, where they found both live and dead rabbits.
He explained: “There was one dead rabbit on the floor and live and dead rabbits in the hutches. The grass had all been eaten.
“There was also a yellow garden bucket with putrified remains of several rabbits.”
In total, there were eight dead rabbits and 14 others.
Mr Tarrant said: “In a group of rabbits in cage 5, there was evidence of cannibalism: only one of the rabbits had its ears intact. None of the rabbits in hutches had access to food or water.”
When Williams was interviewed, he said he was not going to comment a great deal. However, when asked about the yellow bucket, he said ‘stop reminding me of that’ and said there were ‘all sorts of people coming in and ou of my garden.’
Williams signed over all the rabbits except one called Loki.
Defence solicitor, Michael Kelleher said: “The facts are shocking, and Williams is shocked as well. You might think he dislikes rabbits, but this is not the case. He has kept rabbits since 2005. He’s got a fridge just for them, and they are part and parcel of his life.”
Mr Kelleher explained that Loki is a house rabbit, and is a descendant of a previous rabbit he had.
He continued: “Williams’ mental health hasn’t been good and he has suffered with alcoholism. He managed to keep looking after the rabbits, and would buy all of his clothes from charity shops so that food was available for the rabbits.
“He suffered with deep depression and was hospitalised immediately after he was found in the state he was in.”
Mr Kelleher told the bench that Williams believed the animals were fed, but it was the alcohol that has fooled his mind. He said: “The rabbits were his family. When he was arrested, he said ‘I’ve let me best friends down. I’ve left my family down’, and was referring to the rabbits.
“He refused to sign over Loki and is desperate to have him back. He believes his mental health will be affected if Loki is not returned.”
Probation officer, Julie Norman explained that Williams had told her he had been keeping rabbits for over 10 years, but had recently been suffering with mental health.
She said: “His father had gone on holiday and he relapsed when he was on his own.
“He was drinking heavily over a two week period and didn’t know what was going on. He is very remorseful, but thought they were being fed. Clearly they weren’t.
“He is particularly stressed abou Loki. He doesn’t go out much because of anxiety – to be able to come here today, he was prescribed diazepam from his doctor just to get on a bus.”
Magistrates told the court that they had taken a considerable amount of time with their sentencing, and are bound by their guidelines.
Williams was banned from keeping animals for five years, and sentenced to 18 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. No requirements were imposed. He must also pay £300 costs and £115 victim surcharge.
WARNING: Graphic images below.
DYFED-POWYS Police is appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision on the A477 between Broadmoor and Redberth, Pembrokeshire.
The crash happened at around 2:40pm on Wednesday (Mar 26) and involved two vehicles – a red Hyundai and a white Ford Transit Connect.
Tragically, the driver of the Hyundai, an elderly woman, died from her injuries. Her family is receiving support from specially trained officers.
The road was closed for several hours to allow for a full investigation and was reopened by 9:00pm the same evening.
Officers are asking anyone who was travelling along the A477 between Broadmoor and Redberth around the time of the collision to get in touch, particularly motorists who may have dash cam footage.
Police can be contacted online at https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk, or by calling 101.
Please quote reference: 25*250073.
ROADCHEF has unveiled six new high-powered 360kW electric vehicle chargers at its Pont Abraham site on the M4 at junction 49.
These latest additions feature 360kW charging capability and CCS connectors, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of electric vehicles. With a charge rate of up to 360kW, drivers can rapidly charge their vehicles, significantly reducing downtime during their journey.
In addition to the charging facilities, visitors to Pont Abraham Services can take advantage of a range of amenities, including 2 hours free parking, free Wi-Fi and a selection of shopping and dining options, making their charging experience both quick and convenient.
A recent report from the UK Parliament’s public accounts committee highlights the disparities in provision of EV charging infrastructure. Roadchef’s expansion at Pont Abraham directly addresses this issue by strengthening Wales’ charging network and adding to the 678 rapid and ultra-rapid charge points available across the country.
With the electric vehicle market continuing to grow, as highlighted by the SMMT, Roadchef’s continued investment in charging infrastructure is a crucial step in future-proofing Britain’s roads.
PEMBROKESHIRE HOME TO CONTINUE UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP
A FAMILY-RUN residential care home near Haverfordwest has been sold after more than two decades of operation by the same family.
The Graylyns Residential Home, located in a rural setting just outside Haverfordwest, has been providing residential, dementia and respite care for up to 15 residents since it was established in 1998 by Graham and Lynne Jones.
The couple, along with their son Andrew, made the decision to sell as part of their retirement plans. The home was purchased by Lina Chirandura, an experienced care provider who already owns another care home and is expanding her portfolio in Wales.
The sale was handled by Oliver McCarthy of specialist business property adviser Christie & Co, with funding arranged through Gary Boyce at Christie Finance.
Former owner Lynne Jones said: “Graham and I have spent 26 wonderful years with our outstanding care teams, getting to know every person who has graced us with their time, memories and love. We set out to create a loving, caring and empathetic home-from-home—and I’m proud to say we achieved that.
“We have worked tirelessly over recent months to find the right person to take The Graylyns forward, and we truly believe Lina is the right choice. The home’s daily operations will remain unchanged—Andrew will continue as Manager, and all of our incredible care staff will stay in place. Most importantly, our residents and their families will continue to have their ‘forever home’.
“We are deeply grateful to all who have supported us over the last 26 years and look forward with excitement to what the future holds for The Graylyns under new ownership.”
Oliver McCarthy, Director – Care at Christie & Co, said: “I’m delighted to have completed the sale of this remarkable care home. Lina is an outstanding operator, and I have no doubt she’ll continue the exceptional standard of care the Jones family has provided. Demand for trading care homes remains strong in South Wales, and we expect this trend to continue.”
Gary Boyce, Director at Christie Finance, added: “Despite initial reluctance from mainstream lenders due to this being Lina’s first care home purchase and the smaller number of bedrooms, we were able to secure funding through our network of alternative lenders. Lina brings a wealth of experience from her background running adult and children’s care services, and we look forward to seeing her thrive at The Graylyns.”
The Graylyns Residential Home was sold for an undisclosed sum.
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