News

Young people with additional learning needs praised

Published

9 years ago

November 17, 2017

CHILDREN and young people with additional learning needs (ALN) who have faced a number of challenges in their education have been praised.

Pembrokeshire County Council has presented ten youngsters with special certificates and STAR awards for outstanding achievements in their learning.

The presentation took place at a recent ALN Achievement Event. Ten children and young people were invited, along with their parents/carers, schools representatives and members of the specialist service teams.

The recipients of the awards were:

Tia Best (Prendergast): Tia’s teachers describe her as “a ray of sunshine” who is always concerned about how her peers and friends are feeling and is always ready to help and support them.

Georgia Neilson (Portfield): Georgia has undergone multiple operations but is always positive and caring towards her peers. She works hard at her education despite all the challenges she faces. School staff say she is an “inspirational young person.

Ashlee Rees (Pembrokeshire Learning Centre): Ashlee has worked hard to develop positive relationships with school staff and has been entered for GCSEs. His enthusiasm for learning is greatly admired by the staff who work with him.

Theo Salter-John (Year 8 Pembroke): Theo has a hearing loss but has successfully settled into secondary school. He has supported and educated staff working with him on the use of his personal amplification system.

Miles Cooke (Elective Home Education): electively home educated, Miles passed GCSEs in English Language and Physics when in Year 9 He takes part in village life and has organised an art competition for the community.

Olivia Phillips (Year 7 Sir Thomas Picton): Olivia has cerebral palsy. She is very determined and plays wheelchair rugby for the Ospreys and for the Welsh team. She played a key role in planning for her transition to secondary school.

Sian Gwynne, Josh Flynn and Jamie Bailey (Pembroke School Autistic Spectrum Condition Centre): Sian, Josh and Jamie have made significant progress in being able to access mainstream lessons and are managing to do so independently for a large proportion of time.

Freddie Nye (Year 6 Pembroke Dock): Freddie has cerebral palsy. He is helping to plan for his move to secondary school in September, 2018, and is determined to be as independent as possible.

The Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, Councillor Paul Harries, said: “I am so impressed with these young people and the hurdles they have had to overcome. It was an honouir to spend time in their company.”

Councillor David Lloyd, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, added: “It was lovely to meet such inspirational children and young people who have faced considerable challenges but have overcome them with determination and perseverance. We were very pleased to celebrate and recognise their achievements.”

Crime

Carmarthen man admits takeaway burglaries

Published

1 hour ago

June 27, 2026

Court Reporter

Phillip Roberts stole cash from USA Chicken and returned the following day with intent to steal

A CARMARTHEN man has admitted a string of burglaries at the same takeaway business on consecutive days.

Phillip Roberts, 44, of Brewery Road, Carmarthen, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to three offences connected to USA Chicken on Blue Street.

The court heard that on June 4, Roberts entered the premises as a trespasser and stole a tip jar containing cash. He also admitted a second burglary at the same business on the same date, during which £50 cash was stolen.

A further offence took place on June 5, when Roberts entered USA Chicken as a trespasser with intent to steal.

Magistrates adjourned sentence for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. The report will consider all sentencing options, including possible committal to the Crown Court.

Roberts was granted conditional bail. He must not enter USA Chicken, Blue Street, and must not contact Mustafa Baksi, either directly or indirectly.

He is due to return to Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on July 1 for sentence.

Health

Welsh Ambulance Service urges public to ‘choose wisely’ as pressures continue

Published

2 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH AMBULANCE SERVICE has issued a fresh appeal to the public following the declaration of a critical incident on Friday (June 26), as exceptionally high demand continues to place pressure on crews across Wales.

In a social media post published today (Saturday, June 27), the Trust warned that hot weather is contributing to a rise in ambulance call-outs, including incidents involving heat-related illness, falls, breathing difficulties and existing medical conditions worsened by the heat.

The message comes less than 24 hours after the service declared a critical incident amid unprecedented demand, with ambulance resources stretched across Wales.

The Trust is urging people to call 999 only for serious or life-threatening emergencies, contact NHS 111 Wales for urgent health advice, and use local pharmacies for minor illnesses and ailments.

It said choosing the right service can help ambulance crews reach the sickest patients more quickly while pressures remain high.

Crime

Six arrested after immigration raids at Florentino’s restaurants

Published

3 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SIX people have been arrested following Immigration Enforcement raids at Florentino’s Italian restaurants in Tenby and Carmarthen.

Officers visited the Tenby branch in St Julian’s Street on June 18, where two Romanian nationals were identified as allegedly having no right to work in the UK. Both were arrested on suspicion of illegal working.

The Tenby operation followed an earlier raid at Florentino’s in Carmarthen in February, where four workers — two Romanian nationals, a Bangladeshi national and a Mongolian national — were also arrested on suspicion of illegal working.

The Herald previously reported in March that the Carmarthen restaurant had been linked to a major HMRC case, after Claudio Cernat Ltd, formerly trading as Florentino’s on Jacksons Lane, was listed over a £278,000 deliberate tax underpayment and a further £186,000 penalty.

Immigration officials say inquiries are now under way to establish who may be liable for employing the individuals. Employers found to have breached illegal working rules can face civil penalties of up to £60,000 per worker.

One of the Tenby workers has already returned, while the other is in the process of returning. Of the Carmarthen workers, two have returned, one was placed on immigration bail and another was de-arrested with a warning.

Immigration Enforcement Lead for Wales, Richard Johnson, said: “I want to thank my officers who showed the highest levels of professionalism under challenging circumstances on these operations.

“Immigration Enforcement teams in Wales continue to work round the clock to ensure businesses play by the rules and those with no right to be in the UK are tracked down and returned at the earliest opportunity.”

The Home Office says illegal working enforcement has increased significantly since July 2024, with raids and arrests rising across the UK and Wales.

No finding has yet been made against the restaurant operators in relation to the latest arrests.

Florentino’s has been approached for comment.