News

Haverfordwest: Opticians nominated for prestigious award

Published

9 years ago

March 17, 2017

A HAVERFORDWEST business has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

Specsavers in Haverfordwest is one of just five businesses in the UK to have been shortlisted in the enhanced optical service category at the Optician Awards, which recognises excellence in primary eyecare services delivered in the community.

To make the shortlist, the Haverfordwest opticians, locally owned and run by directors Andy Britton and Paul Skoczek, outlined how the store supports the Pembrokeshire community’s eyecare needs as well as its involvement in the integration of new eyecare schemes.

“To be one of only five businesses in the country to make the shortlist for a prestigious award is a significant achievement for the entire team here,’ said Andy Britton.

“We are extremely passionate about providing the highest standards of clinical professionalism and this nomination reflects the hard work we’ve put in to achieve recognition at a national level.”

Andy Brittom: Director at Specsavers

The practice assesses patients that contact the store with urgent eye health complaints by using a triage form. This process ensures, wherever possible, treatment is provided in the local community and prevents some people travelling in excess of 50 miles to the nearest hospital.

It also helps relieve hospital eye services by providing glaucoma refinement services following its recent investment in an optical coherence tomography machine, which screens for conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. The practice’s cataract assessments aim to avoid unnecessary patient referrals to hospital and prioritise those in urgent need of specialist ophthalmologist treatment.

Specsavers Haverfordwest has collaborated with other opticians and Hywel Dda University Health Board to reduce a list of patients waiting for assessment at hospital for eye health concerns. This involves Specsavers’ optometrists reviewing patient information and assessing whether their health complaints can be dealt with in the community or if they require hospital treatment, as well as advising on the urgency of their care needs.

Mr Britton added: “We have actively worked with secondary healthcare providers to ensure better collaboration of services to positively impact our community. We have not only invested in cutting-edge equipment to enhance the services we can deliver but are continually investing in our staff through training, to ensure we are truly a key support function in Haverfordwest.”

The Optician Awards take place on Saturday, April 1at the Hilton Metropole Birmingham. The shortlist follows on from the business’s recent award win for clinical excellence at Specsavers’ national award ceremony.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

11 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

33 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

39 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.