News

Tenby: Fashion retailer creates 30 jobs as it opens doors

Published

9 years ago

July 10, 2017

NATION-WIDE fashion retailer M&Co has opened its doors to customers in Tenby.

M&Co announced it had agreed a lease with family-run T.P. Hughes to occupy its 10,000 sq ft property fronting on High Street, Upper Frog Street and St Nicholas Lane, which include the extensions into Bank Lane.

The store has created 30 new jobs with five positions being filled by former T.P. Hughes staff.

This is the third store in Wales for the fashion retailer, which ranges include women’s, men’s and children’s clothing and accessories, together with homeware products.

Advised by Cardiff-based independent commercial property specialists Cooke & Arkwright, T.P. Hughes will still operate in the town but will focus its efforts on home furnishings.

T.P. Hughes will continue to sell furniture, carpets, bedding and home furnishings from the current carpet shop location in Upper Frog Street.

Chris Hughes of T.P. Hughes said: “We’re really pleased to have signed this deal with M&Co and help them open their third store in Wales. Five of our current staff have secured jobs with the retailer and we are sure they will be very happy in their new positions.

“Having had such a long-standing presence in Wales, we always review our business strategy in line with customer demand. As a result, we are now focusing our offering on home furnishings.

Huw Thomas, director at Cooke & Arkwright, said: “T.P. Hughes has been a key part of the Tenby retail offering for over a century and it was important for us to secure a long-term lease to a company that T.P. Hughes felt would benefit and add value to the Tenby community, of which it has played and will continue to play a key part moving forward.

“Whilst we did generate interest from a number of other retailers as well as some alternative uses, it was agreed that M&Co’s broad fashion line would be the most beneficial in attracting shoppers to Tenby.

“M&Co’s complimentary trade with the existing TP Hughes furnishings business, their recruitment of some of the existing TP Hughes staff, as well as their long-term commitment to investing into the building, demonstrates how securing this agreement with M&Co was the correct course of action to take.

“We’re sure that T.P. Hughes, M&Co and their customers will benefit immensely from the new store opening.”

Steve Knott, M&Co executive chairman, said: “I think the new store looks absolutely fantastic; with help from TP Hughes we were able to turn the store around within 6 weeks of being given the keys – which is brilliant.”

“We were very keen to retain the heritage of the building and feel that we’ve done TP Hughes proud.”

“The initial reaction from customers is that they are really delighted that we’re here – so fingers crossed that we will have a long and established relationship with Tenby.”

Crime

Man sentenced after false stabbing claim in abusive 999 call

Published

16 hours ago

July 16, 2026

Court Reporter

Court hears intoxicated caller wasted police resources after contacting officers from Penally caravan site

A MAN has been sentenced after falsely claiming he had been stabbed and making abusive comments during a 999 call to police.

Christopher Lawrence, 43, contacted the emergency services from the Oasis campsite in Penally on June 2, saying he wanted to report a crime.

“He told police that he had been stabbed, stating: ‘You f****** don’t care,’” Crown prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

Lawrence then ended the call, but the police control room contacted him again.

He told the call handler that a man he described as “half bald” and drunk had arrived at the campsite and was threatening him.

“I’ve told the f****** police that if he comes here, I’ll go mental,” Lawrence said.

He also claimed to have suffered a stab wound to his side but said he did not require an ambulance.

When officers arrived, they found Lawrence heavily intoxicated.

“He told the officers that he had not been stabbed and had not made the call, but clearly that was not the case,” Ms Vaughan said.

Lawrence, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to sending an offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing message to police.

His solicitor, Michael Kelleher, said the offence had been driven by Lawrence’s alcohol misuse.

“What runs throughout this case is his alcohol abuse, but he is now showing a willingness to address it,” Mr Kelleher told the court.

“This functioning alcoholic wants to get to the bottom of his problem and stop offending.

“Alcohol can heighten a person’s anxiety and their perception of what is happening. There was no issue concerning his safety on this occasion, but there had been in the past, and that was playing on his mind.

“But what he did was wrong. It was a waste of police resources, and he understands how other people could have been affected by his actions.”

Lawrence was sentenced to a 12-month community order, including a nine-month alcohol treatment programme and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He was also fined £100 and ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.

Crime

Saundersfoot man admits attempted sexual communication with a child

Published

16 hours ago

July 16, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A 56-YEAR-OLD man has admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child in Saundersfoot.

Appearing before Haverfordwest Magistrates Court this week was Philip Williams, of Valley View, Saundersfoot.

The court was told that between July 20 and July 28, 2024, Williams attempted to engage in sexual communication with a 13-year-old child who was called Sam.

During his communication with the child, Williams requested snapchat images of the child’s bottom as well as images of her wearing running leggings or tights. This, the court, was told, was for his sexual gratification.

But unknown to Williams, the ‘child’ was an undercover police officer.

Williams pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

His sentencing will take place on August 4 to enable an all options pre-sentence report to be prepared by the probation service.

Crime

Rear-seat passenger admits causing serious injury by dangerous driving

Published

16 hours ago

July 16, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Court hears 21-year-old repeatedly grabbed steering wheel of moving Volkswagen Golf

A REAR-SEAT passenger has admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving after repeatedly grabbing the steering wheel of a moving car.

Joseph Lawrence Jones, 21, was travelling in the back of a Volkswagen Golf being driven by Sioned Tesni Povey, 22, along the Spring Wells to Spittal road on September 30.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that Jones reached forward from the rear seat and pulled the steering wheel from the driver.

“He then repeated his actions, but Sioned Povey continued to drive and made no resistance to Mr Jones’ actions,” Crown prosecutor Sian Vaughan said.

“This was a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road.”

The court heard that Harlie-Louise Smith sustained serious injuries during the incident.

Jones, of Wesley Way, Spittal, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Povey, of Duncan Terrace, Maenclochog, denied the same charge, maintaining that her driving had not caused Ms Smith’s injuries.

Although magistrates accepted jurisdiction to deal with the case, Povey elected to be tried at the Crown Court.

She is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on August 14, when Jones is also expected to be sentenced.

Magistrates imposed an interim driving disqualification on Jones.

Both defendants were released on unconditional bail.