A 37-YEAR-OLD Ceredigion man has been jailed after repeatedly failing to comply with the terms of a suspended sentence order imposed for an assault.

Michael Smith, aged 37, of Cross Inn, Llandysul, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Mar 9).

The court heard that Smith had failed to comply with requirements attached to a suspended sentence order originally imposed by Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on June 11, 2025.

He admitted breaching the order by failing to attend unpaid work on December 21, 2025, missing a planned probation appointment on January 29, 2026, and failing to provide acceptable evidence within the specified timeframe.

Smith admitted the breach when he appeared in court.

Magistrates were told the suspended sentence had originally been imposed following Smith’s conviction for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The offence took place on October 13, 2024, at his home in Cross Inn, where he assaulted Sasha White, causing her actual bodily harm.

Because of the repeated breach of the order, magistrates decided to activate the suspended sentence.

Smith was ordered to serve the 16-week prison sentence that had previously been suspended for 18 months.

A further four weeks’ imprisonment was imposed consecutively on a related matter, bringing the total custodial sentence to 20 weeks.

In their sentencing remarks, magistrates said Smith had shown “very low and limited compliance” with the court order and had demonstrated a disregard for the requirements placed upon him.

The court also noted that he had committed a further offence shortly after the suspended sentence order had originally been imposed and that the breach represented his third failure to comply.

Smith had been on bail prior to the hearing but was taken into custody following the court’s decision.

17-year-old victim said she feared for her life after a series of threats

A MAN who threatened a teenage girl with violence during a series of phone calls has been jailed for 18 months.

Paul Gurney, aged 32, of Maes Grug, Stop and Call, Goodwick, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Monday (Mar 9) after admitting sending communications threatening death and serious harm.

The court heard the victim, a 17-year-old girl who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was alone at a property in Whitland on the evening of February 11 when she received a call from Gurney.

Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told the court that Gurney had previously been in a relationship with the teenager and appeared to be heavily intoxicated during the call.

During the conversation, he accused her of being unfaithful before making a series of threats.

“He told her he was going to come to her house and chop her ears off and that he would bring a gun and a baseball bat with him,” the court heard.

Later the same evening, Gurney contacted the girl again, telling her: “You betrayed me, so now I’m going to betray you and your family.”

The court was also told that Gurney posted a photograph of himself on Facebook holding a knife. When officers later searched his home, they found a BB gun and pellets.

Victim left frightened

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the teenager said the incident left her fearing for her safety.

“I was really scared, believing he was going to come to my address,” she said.

“I’m genuinely scared about what he might do, because I know he’s capable of violence.”

Defence cited drug dependency

Representing Gurney, solicitor Tom Lloyd said his client had been heavily dependent on drugs at the time of the offence.

“Since this incident he has addressed his drug issues and is very remorseful for what happened,” he told the court.

“He said some extremely foolish and unpalatable things, but he meant no harm.”

Mr Lloyd also disputed the prosecution’s suggestion that Gurney had been in a relationship with the victim.

Jail term imposed

After considering the case, the judge sentenced Gurney to 18 months’ imprisonment.

A restraining order was also imposed preventing him from contacting the victim.

A SPECIAL election hustings focusing on the future of support for people with learning disabilities will take place in north Pembrokeshire next month.

Clynfyw Care Farm in Abercych will host the event on Wednesday (Apr 22), bringing together Senedd election candidates from several political parties to answer questions from people directly involved in health and social care.

Candidates from the Green Party, Conservatives, Plaid Cymru, Liberal Democrats and Labour have already confirmed they will attend, while responses are still awaited from other candidates standing in the election scheduled for May 7. hustings press release 9.3.26

The event aims to give people with learning disabilities, their families, carers and support workers the opportunity to ask candidates what they plan to do to improve services and support over the next Senedd term.

Jim Bowen, Registered Manager at Clynfyw Care Farm, said the event comes at a time when many people working in social care feel under increasing pressure.

“With social care cuts forever on the agenda, we welcome the opportunity to learn whether our next Senedd representatives will have our best interests at heart,” he said. “Are we even on their agenda?”

Stephen Galloway, a participant representative at the care farm, said people with learning disabilities want to know how politicians plan to protect opportunities for independence.

“It’s important we have a chance to learn independent living skills, but the cuts are taking away our freedom,” he said. “We want to know how they are planning to change this.”

Organisers say the hustings will also give social workers and unpaid carers the chance to share their experiences and explain what support they need in order to continue providing services in rural communities.

Jim Bowen added that the role of the care sector had been widely recognised during the pandemic but many workers now feel undervalued.

“During the pandemic we were termed ‘essential workers’. Now we struggle to survive on minimum wage and ever-increasing costs,” he said. “We were essential then, but now we are not. What has changed?”

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Care, Tessa Hodgson, will introduce the event, which organisers say is likely to feature challenging questions based on real-life experiences.

The hustings will run from 1:00pm to 3:00pm, with limited places available. Advance booking is required and the event will be recorded, with fact-checked audio clips later shared on the Clynfyw Care Farm Facebook page.