News
Swan ‘killers’ in court


Swans: The family in Withybush Woods before the shootings (pic. The Herald)
THREE people accused of shooting four swans at Withybush Woods in October last year appeared before magistrates at Haverfordwest Law Court today (Mar 14).
There should have been four people in the dock, however Joseph Lawson, accused of jointly harming a swan with his co-defendants, did not attend court.
Magistrates issued a warrant without bail and hoped he would be brought to court immediately, before officers became aware that Lawson was in Mansfield.
The defendants who decided to show up to the hearing were: 32-year-old Gareth George Mattson of Goshawk Road in Haverfordwest; 24-year-old Benjamin Phillips of Jury Lane in Haverfordwest; and a 13-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
The 13-year-old boy and Phillips both pleaded guilty to the charges against them, however Mattson denied the allegation.
Prosecutor, Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, told the court that a problem with the swans was reported to Maria Evans of the Wildlife Trust. Ms Evans attended Withybush Woods on October 20, and could see a female adult swan was dead, but she was unable to recover it.
Mr Pritchard-Jones said: “The swan still hasn’t been recovered, and may still be there unless it has been taken away by a predator.”
He explained to the court that the following day, a cygnet had been found on the bank of the lake and was recovered. It was taken to All Pets Vet Care in Milford Haven for a veterinary examination.
At this point, it was still alive.
Mr Pritchard-Jones said: “It had received an injury to its wings. An x-ray taken of its wing showed fragments of an air pellet. The main bone had completely severed and was out of alignment. It had completely snapped.
“There were four or five metal fragments in its wing. It had to be put down, as it was unable to make a recovery.”
Three days later, a male swan was found dead in the same location. This bird was too taken to All Pets Vet Care, and underwent an X-Ray.
Mr Pritchard-Jones explained: “One pellet was in the middle of the abdomen, and one was near the joint of the leg by the hip joint.”
A fourth cygnet was recovered by the RSPCA the following day, which had damage to its wing consisting of a ‘soft tearing injury’.
Mr Pritchard-Jones told the court that there was no pellet found in that cygnet. However the wound ‘could’ have been made by a pellet passing through.
He went on to say that after police had made enquiries, suspicion fell on the four defendants. They made prepared statements, and the police and prosecution pieced together what had happened from these.
There were no eyewitnesses.
Phillips told officers that ‘the plan was to shoot some rabbits’, but they found none, and instead decided to look for ducks to shoot instead.
Mr Phillips said: “The swan was shot and I took a shot to put it out of its misery. I aimed for its head but I missed. The gun was passed around.
“I regret bitterly that I became involved. Things got out of hand. This was not a prank – it was a big mistake.”
The court heard that before the shooting of the swans commenced, there was a discussion about whether it should be done or not. The court heard that the 13-year-old had said: “I think it would be funny as f**k.”
Defending the 13-year-old boy, Katy Hanson, said: “He is only 13 and has no previous convictions. He’s never been in trouble, and it’s incredibly sad to see someone so young here today.
“What he says, is he had gone shooting and assumed that it was okay to have an air rifle. He not got a great knowledge of the law, and trusted adults not to lead him astray.
“He was with three people who were significantly older. They suggested shots should be taken at the swans and the gun was passed to him. He took one shot, and purposefully missed the swan.”
Ms Hanson continued: “He has ADHD and hyperactivity disorder. His mother is horrified by the incident and trusted [the adults] to look after him.
“This has had a huge impact on his life. He had difficulty sleeping and eating. He is in school, and finds things stressful.”
Magistrates imposed a 12 month referral order, and ordered that the 13-year-old pay £85 prosecution costs and £20 victim surcharge.
Magistrates then turned their attention to dealing with Phillips.
A report from the probation service said that he felt an ‘immense’ amount of peer pressure, and that if he was in this situation again he would call the RSPCA.
Defence solicitor, David Williams, said: “My client recognises the immense public disapproval and upset that his participation has caused.
“Phillips took three to four shots to put the swan out of its misery. He did not shoot at any of the other swans, and was not in possession of the gun after he had done what I have described.”
Mr Williams commented on the fact that it has taken five months for the matter to come to court, and explained what has happened in Phillips’ life in that time. He said: “The public disapproval has manifested itself in worse ways.
“On March 10, my client’s family car was vandalised. It had on its bonnet, on one side from front to back and on one wheel arch, obscene words scratched on it. I won’t repeat the obscenities, but one was ‘swan killer’.”
The chair of the bench told Phillips: “This is a difficult and distressing case. The community feel very strongly about the case, and we believe it has crossed the custody threshold.”
Magistrates sentenced Phillips for four months imprisonment, suspended for a total of 12 months. He must complete 150 hours of unpaid work and complete a 15 day rehabilitation activity requirement. He must also pay £85 prosecution costs and £115 victim surcharge.
A trial date for Mattson was set, and will take place on Wednesday, April 19 at 10am at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.
He was released on bail until then, on condition that he made no contact with prosecution witnesses.
News
Debate over 20mph speed limit continues in Pembrokeshire

CONCERNS over road safety and public backlash have led Wrexham Council to take a cautious approach to increasing speed limits on dozens of roads—but will Pembrokeshire follow suit?
Following widespread opposition to the Welsh Government’s blanket 20mph policy, councils across Wales, including Pembrokeshire, have been reviewing the limits. In Wrexham, a public consultation revealed overwhelming support for restoring 30mph limits on 52 roads, but councillors are proceeding with caution, citing safety concerns.
Pembrokeshire residents voice frustration
While Wrexham moves toward changes, Pembrokeshire County Council has yet to announce a firm decision on altering its 20mph zones, despite strong opposition in key areas such as Johnston, Haverfordwest, and Milford Haven.
A public consultation in Pembrokeshire allowed residents to request changes up until October 2024, and many raised concerns about longer journey times, impact on businesses, and emergency response delays. A petition was even submitted calling for the A4076 in Johnston to be exempt from the lower limit, arguing that the road is a major route with suitable pedestrian infrastructure.
One local business owner in Haverfordwest told The Herald: “It’s just not practical on some of these roads. We need sensible speed limits, not a blanket approach.”

Government admits mistakes
The Welsh Government introduced the 20mph speed limit in September 2023, claiming it would reduce accidents and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Initial data suggests there were 100 fewer deaths or serious injuries on affected roads.
However, in December 2024, government officials admitted that mistakes had been made in rolling out the policy, following widespread backlash across Wales. Pembrokeshire councillors, including Paul Miller, cabinet member for economy and transport, have acknowledged public frustration but stress the need to balance safety with practicality.
Will Pembrokeshire follow Wrexham’s lead?
In Wrexham, Councillor Dave Bithell has urged caution, warning that increasing speed limits could heighten accident risks. Wrexham aims to finalize its review by May, working alongside North Wales Police to manage any changes.
With strong opposition from some Pembrokeshire communities, it remains to be seen whether the county council will reverse course on certain roads or maintain the lower speed limits.
The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) has acknowledged that while some communities back the 20mph policy, others remain strongly against it. The question now is whether Pembrokeshire’s roads will see similar changes to those being considered in Wrexham.
Should Pembrokeshire reconsider its 20mph limits? The Herald wants to hear your views.
Education
Excluding pupils for knives ‘too simple’, says Estyn chief

A SCHOOL should understand why a pupil brings a knife in rather than relying on blanket exclusions, the chief inspector of Welsh education watchdog Estyn has said.
Owen Evans said the “easy answer” was to exclude pupils, but insisted the issue needed a more nuanced approach.
He argued there were multiple reasons why a child might bring a weapon to school and that a one-size-fits-all policy would not work.
However, Neil Butler, national officer for Wales at the NASUWT union, called the suggestion “most unhelpful” and said immediate exclusions should be the priority to protect pupils and staff.
School attack in Ammanford
Mr Evans’ comments follow the conviction of a 14-year-old girl for the attempted murder of three people during a stabbing at a school in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire.

“You may have a child that has every potential for redemption but they have fallen into bad practice, and we cannot exclude those people from society,” he told the BBC’s Walescast.
“A lot of children who bring knives to school feel threatened themselves or believe others are carrying weapons.
“We need to tackle the root causes behind these decisions,” he added.
While knife crime in Welsh schools is rare, Mr Evans said lessons needed to be learned.
Bridgend council has announced an inquiry after police were called to Bryntirion Comprehensive last week when a knife was reportedly found in a pupil’s bag.
Union backs tough action
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales, Mr Butler acknowledged the importance of understanding why children bring weapons to school but said the approach could not be “nuanced”.
He described Mr Evans’ concerns about exclusion pushing pupils out of society as “nonsense” and insisted that removing offenders from schools was necessary for safety.
“If a child who has carried a knife into school remains there while psychologists assess them, they continue to pose a danger to others,” he said.
“Exclusion doesn’t mean the end of education—it means education in a more suitable setting outside of mainstream schools.”
He added: “We must be clear: carrying a knife has consequences. That means immediate exclusion.
“It’s as simple as that—we have to nip this in the bud before it escalates further.”
Rising behavioural issues
Estyn is preparing to release its annual report on the state of education and training in Wales, with concerns over increasing behavioural problems.
Mr Evans said: “Since the pandemic, we are seeing young children coming into school unable to communicate or even potty trained.”
He called for more support for pupils and teachers but acknowledged a lack of resources.
“Strong leadership, clear and consistently applied behaviour policies, and good family support can make a real difference,” he said.
Wales’ Education Secretary, Lynne Neagle, has announced a behavioural summit next year to tackle the “complex” issues facing schools.
News
Former Plaid Cymru leader Dafydd Elis-Thomas dies aged 78

Tributes pour in for ‘Senedd’s founding father’
FORMER Plaid Cymru leader and Senedd Presiding Officer Lord Elis-Thomas has died at the age of 78, his family has announced.
Dafydd Elis-Thomas led Plaid Cymru between 1984 and 1991 and served as MP for Meirionydd and later Meirionydd Nant Conwy from 1974 until 1992, when he was appointed to the House of Lords.
He made history in 1999 as the first Presiding Officer of the newly established Welsh Assembly, now the Senedd, a role in which he helped shape Wales’ modern political landscape. Flags will fly at half-mast outside the Senedd in Cardiff Bay as a mark of respect.
A POLITICAL MAVERICK
Known for his independent streak, Lord Elis-Thomas often clashed with Plaid Cymru’s leadership and left the party in 2016. He later served as a minister in both Carwyn Jones and Mark Drakeford’s Welsh Labour governments, despite remaining unaffiliated with the party.
He stepped away from frontline politics in 2021, retiring after decades of service to Welsh public life.
A FAMILY’S LOSS
In a statement, his family said he died “peacefully at his home” on Friday morning after a short illness. “The family request privacy at this difficult time.”
POLITICAL TRIBUTES
First Minister Eluned Morgan led tributes, calling Lord Elis-Thomas “one of Wales’ greatest political figures.”
“Dafydd was a true giant of Welsh politics and a passionate champion of our nation, our language, and our culture,” she said.
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth described his passing as “a huge loss to Welsh politics and civic life.”
“Dafydd made a priceless contribution in laying the foundations of devolution. He was a ground-breaking MP and led Plaid Cymru with passion and distinction,” he said.
Senedd Presiding Officer Elin Jones said: “It is hard to imagine Welsh political life without him. Dafydd was always at the heart of our democracy, shaping and challenging it in equal measure.”
Liz Saville-Roberts, Plaid Cymru MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, said: “He was a tremendous figure in Welsh public life whose passion for our democracy inspired so many.”
Former Welsh Labour minister Lee Waters described him as “an amazing character” who played a pivotal role in modern Welsh politics. “I liked him a lot, even though he could be maddening. Very sad news.”
Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar MS said: “Lord Elis-Thomas was a titan of Welsh politics. His deep love for Wales and its people was undeniable.”
Andrew RT Davies, his predecessor, added: “He was always forthright and robust when expressing his views, and for that, I admired him strongly.”
A LASTING LEGACY
Lord Elis-Thomas’ influence on Welsh politics is undeniable, from his leadership of Plaid Cymru to his role in establishing the Senedd. His passing marks the end of an era for Welsh political life, but his legacy will endure for generations to come.
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