News

Judgement reserved on Herald editor

Published

9 years ago

April 20, 2017

Barrister Matthew Paul: Pictured with Herald editor Thomas Sinclair

THE EDITOR of The Ceredigion Herald appeared in court today (Apr 20) charged with breaching a statutory reporting restriction.

Thomas Hutton Sinclair, the 37-year-old editor of the Herald titles, was on trial for allegedly identifying the complainant in a sexual offence case.

Appearing in Llanelli Magistrates’ Court, Mr Sinclair maintained his not guilty plea.

Prosecuting, Emma Myles told the court that the allegation related to an article published in the Ceredigion Herald in 2016.

“The court will be aware that under the provision of the 1992 sexual offences act the complainant has a right to anonymity,” Ms Myles said.

“It is the Crown’s submission that this falls foul of the wording of this act.”

All written statements were accepted by the defence, and the case hinged on whether the article in question breached the Act in question or not.

The court heard from the record of a police interview with Herald deputy editor Jon Coles, in which he stated that he had received the court report in question from a Herald court reporter, and changed the tense from present to past, as well as fixing some errors.

Describing Mr Sinclair as ‘a hands-on editor’, he added that Mr Sinclair had the final word over what was published. Mr Coles stated that in this instance he had not been instructed to check whether the content complied with the law, though on some occasions he carried out this task when asked.

In an informal interview last year, Mr Sinclair told police that he had held the role of editor since 2013, although his training was in law not journalism.

He added that as a total of around 1,200 articles were published over the four titles each week, it was ‘impossible’ to edit all of them, and some of this work was referred to the deputy editor. In this case he had not seen the article until it was brought to his attention by the police.

When asked his opinion on whether the article breached reporting restrictions, Mr Sinclair replied that it ‘sailed close to the wind’ but would not allow members of the public in general to identify the complainant.

He pointed out that the defendant in the original case had ‘a common surname’ and that The Herald had not reproduced his address.

When asked if he would have changed anything had he edited the article himself, Mr Sinclair suggested that he may have taken out details of the defendant’s occupation.

However, he maintained that ‘any member of the general public would not be able to piece together who the complainant is’.

He also noted that the reporter who wrote the article had just been coming to the end of a probationary period at the time, and that his staff had already been booked onto a media law course.

Summing up, Ms Myles said that it was the Crown’s submission that by publishing this article, Mr Sinclair had breached legislation specifically aimed at that type of case.

“I respectfully submit that the legislation must be stringently applied,” she added, stating that details of the relationship between the complainant and the defendant in the original case which were published breached the legislation.

Representing Mr Sinclair, Matthew Paul set out the information revealed in the article – the name, age and former occupation of the convicted party, along with the date of conviction and a familial relationship which had existed at some point between him and the complainant. However, he noted that the date of the offence and the defendant’s address had not been included, and no indication had been given as to the age of the complainant.

His argument was that in this case there was nothing in the article which would allow any member of the public not closely connected with the convicted party or the complainant to make any identification.

Mr Paul stressed that for a conviction, it had to be demonstrated that there was a real, rather than a hypothetical risk of identification.

Referring to the case of the Attorney General vs Greater Manchester Newspaper Group he noted that it had been found that the risk of identification was not based on relative statistical probability but ‘a real risk’.

“The Crown has to establish more than a hypothetical, but a material risk,” he added.

Mr Paul noted that the Crown appeared to be of the position that placing the complainant in a ‘pool of potential victims’ was the same as identifying them.

“Identifying, in my submission, must mean only one thing; it must lead to one person.”

Mr Paul added that the familial relationship mentioned could apply to more than one person, and that there was nothing in the report which suggested whether it was an historical or recent offence.

He suggested that the most the article could lead to, if read by someone familiar with the convicted party and/ or complainant, would be to place them in a ‘small pool’ of potential people.

He also noted that this small risk of identification was made even smaller by the Ceredigion Herald’s circulation figures at this time, which amounted to a relatively small percentage of the county buying a copy, and the fact that the story was not placed online.

“Right from the start you are dealing with a low-level risk, made even smaller by the fact that the date of the offence was not mentioned,” he added.

“Overall, you are looking at whether this report would lead members of the public to identify the complainant – it is my submission that it would not.”

District Judge David Parsons reserved judgement until May 12 at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court.

Community

Tributes paid to teenager killed in Ceredigion crash

Published

29 minutes ago

April 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Family say 19-year-old Lee Barber will be remembered for his kindness, strength and positive attitude

THE FAMILY of a 19-year-old man who died in a road traffic collision in Ceredigion last month have paid tribute to him.

Lee Barber, from Aberaeron, died after the vehicle he was travelling in was involved in a collision on the A482 between Lampeter and Ciliau Aeron on Tuesday, March 24.

In a statement released through Dyfed-Powys Police, his family said: “There are no words that can describe the pain we are feeling as a family. The loss of our son, Lee, has devastated us and has deeply affected the whole community.

“Lee was a loving son who lived life to the fullest. He will be remembered for his kindness, his strength, and his positive attitude. He had a way of bringing people together and made a lasting impact on everyone who knew him.

“We want to take this opportunity to thank everyone in the local community and further afield for the overwhelming support we have received. The messages, stories, memories, and photos that have been shared with us mean more than words can say.

“Our boy Lee will live on forever in our hearts and minds. We now kindly ask for privacy as we take time to grieve.”

Police confirmed the collision happened on the A482 between Lampeter and Ciliau Aeron and that Lee died at the scene.

If you want, I can also turn this into a tighter Herald news update version.

Community

Pembrokeshire Chess Club welcomes AI opponent on historic visit

Published

1 hour ago

April 20, 2026

Cerys Lafferty

PEMBROKSHIRE’S thriving chess community witnessed a unique blend of tradition and technology last week, as Pembrokeshire Chess Club hosted a special guest: “Rook to D2” – an AI-powered chess robot from the Welsh Chess Union.

The visit marked the first stop of the robot’s tour across Wales, making it a historic moment for the county. Club members, both young and old, gathered at Kensington Court in Steynton to experience the future of chess firsthand.

Excitement filled the room as the club’s President officially opened proceedings by making the first move against the robotic challenger. From that moment on, it was “game on,” with 15 junior players eagerly taking turns to test their skills. Several adult members also joined in, creating a lively and inclusive atmosphere.

The evening proved especially memorable for the club’s younger players, who relished the chance to play against cutting-edge technology. Their enthusiasm was matched by club officials, including the Chairman and President, who welcomed the opportunity to introduce innovation into the local chess scene.

Club representatives described the atmosphere as “amazing,” highlighting how advancements in technology are enhancing traditional games like chess and inspiring a new generation of players.

Pembrokeshire Chess Club continues to meet weekly at Kensington Court, Steynton. Junior sessions are held every Tuesday from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, followed by sessions for more experienced juniors and adults. The club prides itself on being family-friendly and inclusive, catering to all abilities – from casual players seeking a friendly game to those aiming to compete in league and tournament chess.

Following its successful debut in Pembrokeshire, the AI chess robot is expected to visit other clubs across Wales in the coming weeks, bringing the same sense of excitement and innovation to chess communities nationwide.

News

Local defence ties strengthened as Shadow Defence Secretary visits Castlemartin

Published

1 hour ago

April 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

James Cartlidge MP highlights strategic role of training area in national security and local economy

JAMES CARTLIDGE, the UK Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, has visited Castlemartin Training Area on Thursday (Apr 16) to meet personnel and discuss the site’s importance to both UK defence capability and the Pembrokeshire economy.

Castlemartin Training Area has a long-established role in the community, having been established in 1938 for tank training by the Royal Armoured Corps. The range was temporarily abandoned following the Second World War but reopened in 1951. From 1961 to 1996 it was also used by German Bundeswehr armoured units under NATO agreements. Today, it is regarded as one of the UK’s premier live-fire armoured training facilities, regularly used to prepare troops for operational deployment.

During the visit, the Shadow Defence Secretary was joined by Paul Davies and Samuel Kurtz, both former Pembrokeshire MSs and Conservative candidates for the Ceredigion Penfro constituency in the upcoming Senedd election on May 7. They highlighted the training area’s role in sustaining skilled local employment, supporting the wider supply chain, and underpinning the presence of the Armed Forces in West Wales.

Discussions also focused on the importance of maintaining strong defence capability amid global instability, alongside the contribution made by defence infrastructure to local communities and businesses across Pembrokeshire.

James Cartlidge MP, Conservative Shadow Defence Secretary, said: “Our Armed Forces rely on world-class training facilities like Castlemartin to ensure they are prepared for the challenges they face.

“It is clear this site plays a crucial role not only in UK national defence but also in supporting local jobs and the wider economy here in Pembrokeshire.”

Paul Davies said: “Castlemartin is an incredibly important asset for Pembrokeshire and for the UK as a whole.

“It supports skilled jobs locally and brings significant economic benefits to the area, as well as playing a key role in training our Armed Forces. We have a proud military history here, with many veterans living in the community.

“We also made clear during the visit that it was the Welsh Conservatives who fought to secure the extension of the 14th Signal Regiment at Cawdor Barracks, protecting jobs and ensuring a continued military presence in the county.”

Samuel Kurtz added: “We are proud of the role Pembrokeshire plays in supporting our Armed Forces. As a former MS with Castlemartin within my constituency, I have worked to build relationships and champion this important military site.

“Facilities like Castlemartin are vital. It is essential they continue to receive the support and investment needed to remain world-leading, and not be repurposed for any other use.”

The visit also underlined Conservative commitments to defence, including increasing defence spending, strengthening the Armed Forces, and ensuring the UK remains secure in an increasingly uncertain world.

It further provided an opportunity to highlight the importance of the defence industry supply chain and the range of businesses across the region that contribute to the sector.