News

MP raises concerns about broadband speeds

Published

9 years ago

March 16, 2017

Tom Sinclair

Simon Hart MP: Raising concerns about broadband speeds

NEARLY half of homes in south Pembrokeshire and west Carmarthen are still getting broadband speeds slower than 10Mb/s, new figures reveal.

Statistics from the House of Commons library show that 74% of households in the constituency have the capability to access Superfast – which is classified as 30 Mb/s and above.

However only 20% of connections are receiving superfast speeds.

Local MP Simon Hart fears that this shows that people are not making the most of the technology that is available to them.

He said: “The fact that nearly three-quarters of houses have access to Superfast, but only a fifth are getting them suggests to me that people are not taking up the Superfast offer.

“Superfast is not like 4G on your mobile phone, it doesn’t happen automatically, you have to sign up for it and switch contracts.”

But he points out that there could be other reasons too.

He continued: “I do wonder if this is because superfast packages are too expensive or possibly that superfast connections are unreliable and customers are not getting the speeds they have been promised.

“I officially live in an area that can get superfast but because of problems with my landline I am unable to access it and so there is no point in switching to the more expensive superfast package, I think that quite a few rural properties probably fall into this trap which would explain some of the low take up.”

South Pembrokeshire and west Carmarthen comes in the bottom 10% of constituencies in the whole of the UK in terms of the number of hosueholds getting less than 2Mb/s.

“We are still quite a way off 97% of households getting access to superfast which is what Openreach has promised,” added Mr Hart.

“I would encourage people to make sure they are accessing faster speeds if they are available and complaining if they are supposed to be getting them but it’s a reality.”

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

17 minutes 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

40 minutes 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

46 minutes 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.