News

Weather concerns for Welsh farmers

Published

12 years ago

February 20, 2014

“FARMERS are concerned with the impact that this prolonged wet weather will have on adhering to some cross compliance rules,” says NFU Cymru President, Stephen James, in his recent letter to the Minister for Natural Resources and Food, Alun Davies.

In his letter, Stephen James endeavoured to highlight some of the issues that are arising on farms across Wales as a result of the continued wet weather that has battered Wales for the past six weeks or so. Farmers are particularly worried about the GAECs covering soils and supplementary feeding.

Stephen said: “Livestock keepers have little option but to feed where is most appropriate for the welfare of animals because flood water in many instances, is preventing access to parts of the farm. With lambing in parts of the country now firmly under way, ewes with young lambs have to be protected from the weather, meaning other livestock that may normally be housed at this time, are being forced to be kept outside for longer than usual. Therefore, we would request a relaxation on rules for supplementary feeding on land subject to agri environment commitments where no other suitable land is available.

“The extreme rainfall has also resulted in slurry stores filling up much quicker than expected and we would request that a pragmatic and flexible approach is adopted to recognise that slurry/waste water will need to be spread as soon as conditions allow.”

Stephen James went on to highlight the continuing struggle that farmers are having in completing their necessary hedge trimming in the small time frame allowed (September 1 – February 28). He said: “The sodden conditions have prevented machinery from being able to access agricultural land for much of the period that hedge trimming is allowed. With the continued wet weather forecast and the certainty that even when the weather improves it will take significant time for the land to dry, NFU Cymru requests that a Wales-wide derogation be introduced to allow for all hedges to be trimmed until the 31 March.

“NFU Cymru is doing its part in providing help and guidance to our members and have re-launched our Fodder Bank scheme, a free service that helps livestock farmers find feed and bedding for their livestock. I hope the Minister will realise our concerns for the industry and provide farmers with assistance in the areas highlighted within my letter.”

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

9 hours 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

10 hours 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

10 hours 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.