A CARMARTHEN woman has been given a suspended prison sentence after admitting a string of shop thefts across the town along with assault and criminal damage.

Jessica Mudd, aged 33, of Ross Avenue, Carmarthen, appeared before magistrates facing multiple offences committed during February this year.

The court heard that Mudd carried out a series of thefts from shops in Carmarthen over a period of days.

On February 13, she stole a number of clothing items worth £85.95 from New Look in St Catherine’s Walk. On the same day she also took miscellaneous goods worth £44 from Flying Tiger in the same shopping centre.

Further offences followed later in the month. On February 20 she stole baby items worth £100 from TK Maxx in Merlin’s Walk and nappies worth £28 from B&M on Hall Street.

Two days later, on February 22, she stole cleaning products and a joint of beef valued at £85.42 from the Co-op on King Street.

The offences continued on February 24 when Mudd stole a pair of Lunar Boots worth £65 from Coco Blush in Cambrian Way.

The court also heard that on February 24 she assaulted David Gareth Watson on Mansel Street by beating him. During the same incident she damaged clothing and glasses belonging to Mr Watson.

Magistrates dealt with the offences together.

Mudd was sentenced to a suspended term of imprisonment. The custodial sentence will not take effect unless she commits further offences during the suspension period.

She was also ordered to pay £85 in prosecution costs.

The case was heard at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court.

WALES’ two farming Unions, NFU Cymru and the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) have used their joint fringe event at the Welsh Liberal Democrats’ spring conference in Cardiff, to set out some of their shared asks for the next Senedd and Welsh Government term to assembled delegates and politicians.

In the event chaired by Brecon and Radnor MP, David Chadwick, key messages from both Unions’ Senedd elections manifestos were communicated to the audience. Amongst these was the need for the SFS to provide stability for farmers in Wales, the necessity of fair and sufficient funding for Welsh agriculture, a genuinely comprehensive TB eradication strategy which combats the disease in all its sources, a risk-based and evidence-led approach to water quality, and a review of the regulatory burden faced by farmers.

With recent global events now placing additional financial pressures on the sector, NFU Cymru President Abi Reader said: “For well over a decade the amount of funding available to support Welsh farmers has remained cash-flat. Inflation has therefore made significant inroads into the real terms value of this funding, whilst farmers are also facing significant and rising costs associated with regulatory and environmental compliance. The unfolding conflict in the Middle East has underscored yet again the importance of ensuring that there is sufficient and secure funding available to support Welsh agriculture, and to ensure our farming families are able to carry on producing the food we need in a volatile world.”

Developing Abi’s comments further FUW President, Mr Ian Rickman said: “Had the agricultural budget kept pace with inflation it would now be well in excess of £500 million.   We need the next Welsh Government to commit to an inflation adjusted, ring-fenced, multi-annual budget which matches our shared ambitions for the sustainable growth of the sector, with the majority of that funding directed towards stability, productivity, and efficiency gains on-farm.”

Delegates also heard from the Unions of how future uplifts to agricultural support funding in Wales are now subject to the Barnett formula, with both NFU Cymru and the FUW setting out their shared concerns about the disadvantage such an arrangement means for Wales. NFU Cymru President Abi Reader said: “When agriculture plays a more significant role in the national economy than in some other parts of the UK, we need to ensure that future uplifts to agricultural support fairly reflect the size and scale of the sector in Wales, rather than being tied to population size via the Barnett formula.”

There were also heartfelt thanks from both Presidents for the support of the Welsh Liberal Democrats during the 14-month battle with the UK Government over its inheritance tax changes. With Abi Reader commenting: “After a long, hard-fought campaign, a fantastic outcome was secured in December when we saw the threshold at which IHT kicks in raised significantly. Whilst the taxation of business assets as if they were personal wealth remains misguided, the adjustment of the thresholds upwards, combined with the transferability of the allowance now places most family farms in Wales outside the reach of this destructive tax and that is something to be welcomed.”

Bringing proceedings to a close Mr Rickman said: “Both Unions have today emphasised how fair and sustainable funding, evidence-based policymaking and regulatory reform will all be crucial to safeguarding the viability and long-term sustainability of Welsh agriculture. 

On behalf of the FUW and NFU Cymru I want to say a big thank you to David Chadwick MP for chairing this afternoon’s session and to all those who came along, listened, and contributed to the discussion. Between now and May the 7th we look forward to continuing constructive engagement with all parties to ensure our shared asks are delivered for the benefit of our farmers, rural communities, and the wider Welsh economy.”

A GROUP of children and young people have benefitted from a £3,000 grant from the Community Cohesion Small Grants Fund that helps celebrate diversity and builds strong relationships between communities.

Tonic Surf, a therapy project that uses surfing and the beach as a recovery tool for children and young people aged 14-25, has been able to offer a 10-week surf therapy course to 10 service users across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, with funds provided by the grant.

Along with Walkin on Water Surf School, Tonic Surf partnered with Hywel Dda’s Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) service to deliver a therapeutic surfing programme, with participants attending weekly surf sessions at Poppit Sands. They were supported by two qualified surf coaches and accompanying staff from the EIP team.

Service users benefitted from more than just surf instruction, they also got to spend time outdoors and connect with nature. They were able to learn a new skill at their own pace and engage in physical activity.

The project helped build social connections between service users, provided healthy coping strategies and supported their recovery.

Cerian Morris, Community Psychiatric Nurse, EIP, said: “We are so grateful to the Mid and South West Wales Community Cohesion Team for the funding. Although each session lasted just two hours, for many attendees the experience became a full‑day positive routine, offering structure and purposeful activity each week.”

She added: “Research has found that graded exposure to more community-based activities has a very positive impact on young people who are experiencing general and social anxiety.

“Tonic surf therapy uses the marine environment as a recovery tool for children and young people. This supports integration with the local community for a group which is often isolated and stigmatised, and it supports young people to overcome loneliness and isolation at a formative stage of their lives.

“By sharing the exhilarating experience of surfing with other young people, the project supports this marginalised group to build important connections with others in their peer group and gives them the resources and resilience to help them overcome their mental health issues.”

Kay Howells, Community Cohesion Coordinator, Mid and South West Wales Community Cohesion Team, said: “Our funding aims to strengthen relationships between communities and support those who may face isolation or barriers to engagement. Tonic Surf has created a safe, supportive space where young people can thrive, learn new skills and feel included. We’re proud to have played a small part in making this possible.”