News
New beach boards to keep Pembrokeshire tidy
A SCHEME encouraging beach users to pick up litter as they soak up the sun is being rolled out to more beaches across the county.
Pembrokeshire County Council in conjunction with Keep Wales Tidy will introuduce 10 new #2MinuteBeachClean boards at various locations across the county with the aid of a Welsh Assembly Government Grant.
The scheme has been expanded following a successful trial at Newgale last year with boards already in place at Broadhaven South, Freshwater West, Coppett Hall, Saundersfoot and Broad Haven (North).
The Hean Castle Estate is sponsoring the board at Coppett Hall while the National Trust and Cafe Môr are sponsors of the boards at Broadhaven South and Freshwater West respectively.
The Anchor Guest House is the guardian of the board at Broad Haven (North).
#2MinuteBeachClean aims to rid the world’s beaches of marine litter and plastic pollution two minutes at a time.
Each board includes a litter picker and bags that passers-by can use.
Bags full of litter can be deposited inside adjacent bins which Pembrokeshire County Council will collect.
Volunteers are also being sought to look after the boards by placing them out daily, bringing them back in overnight and keeping them stocked with pickers and bags.
Keep Wales Tidy’s Zoe Abbott said: “It’s fantastic that Keep Wales Tidy has been able to work with Pembrokeshire Council to bring this great initiative to Wales.
“It is widely known that marine litter is a global problem, the #2minutebeachclean is a simple, effective way to encourage and enable beach visitors to be part of the solution.”
Her thoughts were echoed by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment and Welsh Language, Councillor Cris Tomos.
He said: “We’re delighted to offer this scheme to more beaches across Pembrokeshire.
“We have some of the finest beaches in the World and with a little bit of help two minutes at a time, I’m sure we can keep them that way.”
For more information on how you can volunteer to be a #2MinuteBeachClean board guardian, contact Katie Daly on 01437 775945 or e-mail: [email protected]
News
Milford Haven man jailed for child sex abuse images
A MILFORD HAVEN man, Gareth MacDonald, 23, has been sentenced after pleading guilty to downloading over 1,000 indecent images of children.
MacDonald, of Meyler Crescent, was arrested in March 2023 following a police search of his home. Acting on intelligence, officers seized multiple electronic devices, and MacDonald admitted on-site to downloading illegal images.
Swansea Crown Court heard that MacDonald accessed material spanning all severity categories, including images depicting the rape of pre-teen children. He reportedly told police he had “become bored with legal pornography” roughly a year prior to his arrest.
Judge Geraint Walters sentenced MacDonald to eight months in prison, suspended for two years. As part of the sentence, MacDonald must:
- Complete 20 rehabilitation activity days
- Participate in the Horizon programme
- Register as a sex offender for 10 years
- Comply with a 10-year sexual harm prevention order
Judge Walters remarked that MacDonald had been accessing illegal content “for some considerable period of time” despite knowing it was wrong.
Crime
Ceredigion man sentenced for selling £150,000 in illegal DVDs
A CEREDIGION man has been sentenced for selling counterfeit DVDs worth £150,000 under major brand names without authorization.
David Robert Thomas, 47, from Sarnau, ran a sophisticated online operation, producing and selling fake DVDs labeled with brands like Netflix, Amazon, Disney, Sony, and Universal City Studios LLC. Thomas used seven different websites and managed multiple bank and PayPal accounts, including those of family members, to carry out his business.
Councillor Matthew Vaux, Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: “Counterfeiting is often thought of as a victimless crime, but it harms the local economy by undermining legitimate businesses that pay taxes and create real jobs. This result sends a clear message that counterfeit sales will not be tolerated, and we will act against offenders.”
Thomas pleaded guilty at Swansea Crown Court on Monday (Nov 11) and was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. His sentence includes a four-month curfew and fifteen Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.
Under the Crime Act 2002, forfeiture proceedings will follow to reclaim the financial benefits from Thomas’s criminal activities. Judge Richards took into account the market value of equivalent genuine goods, the sophisticated setup of Thomas’s business, and his previously clean record in reaching the sentencing decision.
The case was brought forward successfully by Ceredigion County Council’s Trading Standards Service.
News
Poignant Poppy Walk created in Milford Haven following Remembrance Day
YOUNG people have again created a fitting tribute in honour of Remembrance Day with a Poppy Walk established along Hamilton Terrace.
On Monday (Nov 11) veterans working for the youth service identify young people to support them in using wreaths laid at the cenotaph to mount them along the railings between the Royal British Legion in Milford down to the Cenotaph itself.
This has now become an annual event with the service, in previous years young people from Milford Haven School and members of Milford Haven Youth Club have completed this work. This year it was young people and staff from Futureworks who helped youth workers.
In previous years the feedback from the public has been extremely positive and this year was no exception with members of the public stopping and speaking to the young people to ask what they were doing and to share their thanks for adding to the community in a respectful way.
Milford Town Council has supported the Poppy Walk since its inception and again were grateful to the youth service and the young people for leading on this work.
Jimmy Wilson, youth worker and former member of the Kings’ Own Royal Border Regiment said: “The fact that these young people have come in on their day off to volunteer their time to create the poppy walk shows that they value the service of the armed forces and understand the significance of remembrance day and the sacrifices made by both serving and ex forces members.”
The above picture includes Alfie, Kaden, Lily, Megan and Jenna with staff from Pembrokeshire Youth Service and Futureworks.
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