News

Advice of officers ‘changed’ on grants

Published

12 years ago

March 14, 2014

CABINET Spokesperson for Economy, Tourism and Communities David Pugh has confirmed to Councillors what The Pembrokeshire Herald previously told its readers: the method of auditing the multi-million pounds schemes DID NOT ensure the integrity of all transactions. Speaking at Full Council yesterday, Cllr Pugh did not reveal how the sample of transactions used to justify payments under the scheme were selected. Cllr Pugh did confirm that it was only after a referral to the Director of Finance and Leisure by Councillors Mike Stoddart and Jacob Williams in relation to an irregularity in the documentation relating to the redevelopment of 10 Meyrick Street, Pembroke Dock, that a referral to the Police was made.

Cllr Pugh appeared to misspeak himself and state that there was confusion by Cllrs Stoddart and Williams as to the nature of the information they had uncovered.

Councillor Pugh also confirmed that advice tendered to Cabinet members by senior officers had changed in light of the detailed examination of the documents ordered by independent Audit Committee chair John Evans MBE.

Cllr Paul Miller had earlier prompted the leader to explain why Councillors were repeatedly told there were no problems with the scheme and why the IPPG had tried to stymie debate and slur Cllr Stoddart’s good name. Defending his administration, Cllr Adams suggested that the advice given to Cabinet by officers was contrary to the allegations raised by Cllr Stoddart.

Responding to Cllr Pugh, Cllr Jacob Williams raised a point of order in which he clarified that it appeared to him that two copies of the document concerned had appeared on the file. One with handwritten annotations highlighting a number of arithmetical “errors” and one without.

In another petty dig at Cllr Mike Stoddart, IPPG leader Jamie Adams pointed out that it was the local authority which had referred the matter to the Police and not the member for Hakin.

The referral to the Police, as revealed in the Pembrokeshire Herald, was not made at 17:15 on Tuesday February 11, 2014, as claimed by Cllr Adams. A Council spokesperson previously confirmed to the Herald that a formal referral had been made only after the EGM on February 14, 2014.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

8 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

8 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

8 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.