News

Tragic soldier ‘suffered from PTSD’

Published

12 years ago

February 11, 2014

A NARRATIVE conclusion has been delivered in the inquest into the death of a former soldier from Tenby.

Private Lee Bonsall was found hanged at his home in Tenby in 2012, six years after he had first asked to be discharged from the service.

The inquest in Milford Haven heard how Private Lee Bonsall, originally from Nottinghamshire, was believed to have been suffering from undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Pte Bonsall, who served in 13 Air Assault Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, asked to leave the Army in October 2006, but it wasn’t until May 2007 before he was seen by a military psychiatrist, who warned he could deteriorate and be a risk of “self-harm or suicide” if he remained in the forces.

He had struggled to cope with his experiences in Afghanistan and asked to leave shortly after the death of his best friend Private Andrew Cutts. The coroner also heard that Lee had attempted to take his own life soon after leaving the forces by taking an overdose of painkillers, the inquest heard.

He was found hanged by his wife Serena at their home in Tenby in March 2012.

Coroner Mark Layton said he proposed a narrative conclusion as he was not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Bonsall’s death can be recorded as a suicide. He said it was unclear that Pte Bonsall intended to kill himself because he was making plans for the future with his wife.

Last year a BBC Panorama investigation, “Broken by Battle”, found he was described by the Army as “dishonest, untrustworthy, unreliable and very unpredictable” and “has consistently been awarded sick leave for numerous reasons.”

The coroner told the soldier’s family he would write to the minister for defence personnel, welfare and veterans, Anna Soubry, to suggest that the procedure for arranging psychiatric appointments is reviewed.

Mrs Bonsall has called on the MoD to give all servicemen mental health assessments when they leave the forces and for them to be forwarded to civilian GPs.Following the conclusion of the inquest Mark Layton backed calls from the former soldier’s family to improve mental health services for personnel leaving the armed forces.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

3 hours 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 A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

4 hours 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 A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.