News
Paramedic’s ‘nasty assault’ is ‘tragic’


Justin Chilvers: Likely to lose his job after ‘nasty’ assault
A PARAMEDIC who assaulted a woman appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Mar 15).
30-year-old Justin John Chilvers, who now lives in Reading, initially pleaded not guilty to the charge and arrived at Haverfordwest Law Court prepared for a trial, however pleaded guilty at the last minute.
The court heard that on October 22 last year, Chilvers had gone out in the evening with a female, along with eight other friends, who all consumed alcohol.
Prosecuting, Vaughan Pritchard- Jones, said that Chilvers had over ten pints that night, and is also on anti-depressants. The complainant said she had over a bottle of wine and five double vodkas.
Mr Pritchard-Jones explained: “This was a nasty assault. It was around 3-4am, the morning after their night out. There was a lock in at the RAFA Club in St Davids. The defendant became involved in a confrontation with another man, and the complainant and one other person ended up outside.
“Chilvers asked the complainant to walk away, but she didn’t want to because she had left her bag inside. However, she walked down an alleyway with him.”
Mr Pritchard-Jones went on to say that Chilver started ‘having a go’ at the victim, saying she hadn’t supported him when he had been confronted in the nightclub, and she just ‘stood by’.
“The next thing she remembers,” said Mr Pritchard-Jones, “he pushed her hard and she fell to the ground. He kicked her to the leg and upper body, and she felt a number of blows coming in, but she couldn’t say where they were coming from or what they were with.”
He continued: “She was pulled back up to her feet and they moved further down the alleyway. He pushed her over again, and he got on top of her, placed his hands around her neck and began to strangle her.”
The court heard that the victim said when Chilvers stopped, he looked like he was in ‘complete shock’, as if he ‘couldn’t believe what he had done’.
Mr Pritchard-Jones said she then started walking in front of him back to the club, and when she got a bit of distance between them, she ran. He ran after her, and rugby tackled her to the floor, causing grazing injuries.
It was at that point that people came out of the RAFA Club and the assault stopped.
Mr Pritchard-Jones said: “The defendant admitted putting his hand around her throat, and said he did it inside the pub to bring her outside for her own protection. He admitted kicking but only once.”
Photographs of the victim’s injuries were shown to the court, which depicted multiple bruises on both sides of her neck, her shoulder and her leg.
Mr Pritchard-Jones described these as ‘nasty’ bruises.
The victim’s statement was read out to court, in which she said she now feels too scared to go out after dark. Her mother has had to take two weeks off work to support her, and her father has also had to have time off.
She said she feels worried and anxious, and has difficulty sleeping. However, she said she wishes Chilvers ‘all the best’, and hopes he ‘learns from his mistakes and has a good life’.
Speaking in Chilvers’ defence, Paul Gilmartin told the court that Chilvers was attacked by three men that night before this incident, which was an unprovoked attack. He claimed that the victim had tried to intervene, and Chilvers got hold of her and ‘pulled her out’.
He also said that after the assault, when she decided to go back to the club, Chilvers felt she shouldn’t have gone back ‘for her own good’, which is why he brought her ‘to the ground’.
Mr Gilmartin said: “He accepts full responsibility and shouldn’t have behaved in that way. Chilvers has come from a very difficult family. Other members of his family have found themselves on the wrong side of the law, but Chilvers has taken a different path. But, his past was there to catch up with him.”
He also told the magistrates that Chilvers will now likely lose his job as a paramedic, and is contemplating joining the military.
After being asked to choose a financial penalty rather than a community order or custodial sentence, the chair of the bench said: “We have taken an unusual step of not going for reports.
“We consider this a category two offence, which is very serious. This is quite tragic. You will probably lose your job. You as a paramedic must have seen the effects of alcohol and drugs.”
Chilvers was ordered to pay a £720 fine, £72 victim surcharge, £350 prosecution costs, and £1,000 compensation to the victim.
A restraining order was also imposed, which restricts Chilvers from contacting the victim directly or indirectly, or entering Pembrokeshire at all.
Health
£3m extra Welsh Labour Government funding for bereavement support

THE WELSH LABOUR GOVERNMENT says it is investing an extra £3m in bereavement services across Wales to help ensure those going through difficult times can access the support they need, when they need it.
The Bereavement Support Grant supports people experiencing a loss, with specialist forms of support available for those experiencing more complex forms of grief.
The three-year additional funding continues to help organisations currently benefiting from the Welsh Labour Government’s existing bereavement care offer across Wales.
This includes Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, the first health board in Wales to provide a psychology-led bereavement service for those who experience the death of a baby, either in pregnancy or up to 28 days following the birth of their baby.
Sarah Murphy, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, said: “I am proud that we as a Welsh Labour Government can continue to provide these important services to ensure that people have the right support they need, when they need it.
“Wales is a compassionate nation and providing additional funding for the Bereavement Support Grant will help these services continue, with the goal of everyone in Wales having equitable access to high-quality bereavement care and support.”
Charity
Saundersfoot Runners host Food Bank Run in support of James Criddle Foundation

Community event set for Sunday, February 23
SAUNDERSFOOT Runners are set to host a charity run/jog/walk in aid of the James Criddle Foundation. The event will take place on Sunday, February 23, starting at 10:00am from Wiseman’s Bridge Inn.
The route is traffic-free, making it safe for participants of all ages, including those bringing dogs—although owners are asked to keep their pets on a lead. The event will last no longer than an hour, and hot drinks will be available for purchase at the Inn afterwards.
The initiative was originally launched by Sarah Don at her running club in Fareham, Hampshire, as a way to collect donations for the local food bank. Inspired by the impact of the event, Sarah and her club planned to make it an annual tradition. However, the onset of COVID-19 and personal challenges delayed its expansion. In 2023, Sarah took the initiative to create a Facebook page, encouraging running groups across the UK and beyond to support their local food banks, turning the event into a national and international movement.
Saundersfoot Runners answered the call in 2023 and have since been organising their own Food Bank Run in support of the James Criddle Foundation. The Foundation operates a food bank from Tenby AFC clubhouse in the Clickets, Tenby.
Supporting local communities
“The Food Bank Run has been a huge support to the Foundation,” said Rachael Criddle, one of the founders. “We are grateful to everyone who takes part, to Saundersfoot Runners for organising such a positive and uplifting event, and to Wiseman’s Bridge Inn for generously allowing us to use their premises.”
The event is free to enter, but participants are encouraged to bring a bag of food donations. Items in high demand include dried food such as pasta and rice, tinned goods including beans, soup, meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables, as well as tinned pies, sausages, and jars or packets of cook-in sauces. Toiletries such as toothpaste, shampoo, and shower gel are also welcomed. A full list of needed items can be found on the Saundersfoot Runners Events page.
Organisers are hoping for a strong turnout to support this vital cause.




Useful links:
Food Bank Run Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/foodbankrun
Further information: https://runr.co.uk/pages/foodbankrun
James Criddle Foundation Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086158195382
Saundersfoot Runners Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/saundersfootrunners
Health
Finding an NHS dentist in Wales made easier with new digital portal

A new digital service aimed at making it easier to find an NHS dentist is being rolled out across Wales.
The Dental Access Portal provides a central platform for people to register their interest in NHS dentistry and for health boards to allocate places for routine NHS dental treatment. The system aims to provide a clearer picture of demand for NHS dental services and eliminate the need for people to call multiple dental surgeries in search of an NHS dentist.
New service launched
To apply through the Dental Access Portal, individuals must:
- Be aged 16 or over (parents or guardians can apply for under-16s)
- Not have received routine dental treatment on the NHS in the last four years
- Live at an address in Wales for more than six months of the year or be registered with a Welsh GP practice
Health Secretary Jeremy Miles welcomed the launch, stating: “Access to NHS dentistry is not where we or the public want it to be.
“This new service will help people who may not have seen a dentist for some time get access to routine NHS appointments.
“Since the trial began in Powys, thousands of people have already been added to the list and will be allocated an NHS dentist as appointments become available.”
Positive feedback from trial
Warren Tolley, dental director at Powys Teaching Health Board, which was the first to trial the new portal, described the experience as “extremely positive.”
“The interface is very user-friendly, allowing people to quickly enter their details, and the admin function has made allocating people to a dental practice quick and easy,” he said.
The new Dental Access Portal will be run by Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW). Sam Hall, director of primary care, community and mental health digital services at DHCW, said: “The development of the Dental Access Portal means we now have a national platform that can provide a clearer picture of demand for routine NHS Wales dental services.
“Allowing people to enrol themselves or those they care for using one online system simplifies and makes fairer the process of registering an interest with an NHS dentist for everyone in Wales.”
Greater efficiency for health boards
Jeremy Miles added: “Capturing this information in one place will have enormous benefits; it will provide health boards with a clear understanding of need in their area and enable them to manage the allocation of people to dental practices as capacity allows.
“For the public, it will remove the need to contact multiple practices, providing an equitable and fairer system of access for all.”
How to access NHS dental care
Anyone already registered with an NHS dental practice should contact their dentist directly for routine or emergency appointments.
For those without an NHS dentist:
- Urgent dental treatment: Visit the NHS 111 Wales website for more information.
- Routine dental treatment: Apply for a place online via the Dental Access Portal. Eligible applicants will be contacted when an appointment becomes available.
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