Man admitted offences including £1,525 Haverfordwest theft and £7,664 Carmarthen theft

A MAN who admitted stealing thousands of pounds worth of electrical items from Currys stores, including branches in Haverfordwest and Carmarthen, has been remanded in custody after his sentencing was adjourned.

Ilia Patchkoria, 27, of no fixed abode, Bacup, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jul 2) for a mention hearing.

He had previously indicated guilty pleas to eight theft charges involving Currys stores across Wales and the south west of England.

The court register states that Patchkoria stole electrical items worth £1,525 from Currys PC World in Haverfordwest on May 23.

On the same day, he also stole electrical items worth £7,664.78 from Currys PC World in Carmarthen.

Further offences involved thefts from Currys stores in Torquay, Barnstaple, Penzance, Plymouth and Truro between May 14 and May 18.

The total known value of the stolen goods is at least £17,459.46, with the value of the Truro offence listed as unknown.

Magistrates remanded Patchkoria in custody after the hearing. The court register records the remand basis as including a likelihood of further offending, failure to surrender, the nature and seriousness of the offences, breach of court orders, and the real prospect of a custodial sentence.

The case was adjourned for sentence at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on July 16.

Popular Saundersfoot pub closed its doors on Sunday after four years under current leaseholder

THE LEASEHOLD of a well-known Saundersfoot pub has attracted strong interest after the business closed suddenly at the weekend.

The Hean Castle Inn shut its doors on Sunday, June 28, after current leaseholder Suzannah Palmer announced she was stepping away from the business following four years at the helm.

Ms Palmer said the decision had been “heart-breaking”, but said months of financial pressure and personal circumstances meant she and her family could no longer continue.

The lease is now being offered for sale, with Ms Palmer confirming that she has already received 43 enquiries from people interested in taking over the pub.

She said: “We have been genuinely overwhelmed by the number of enquiries from people interested in taking over the lease at The Hean Castle Inn.

“This is an opportunity to acquire an established hospitality business in the heart of Saundersfoot, with a strong reputation built over the past four years.

“The sale includes the lease together with an agreed inventory of fixtures and fittings.

“We are looking for serious enquiries only, and sensible offers will be considered.”

Ms Palmer has clarified that the sale relates to the lease only, not the building itself.

Due to the level of interest already received, she said proof of funds will be required before any viewings or negotiations take place.

She added: “Once proof of funds has been received, I will happily discuss the opportunity and arrange a viewing.

“Until then, there will be no negotiations, no viewings and absolutely no further communication.”

The closure has prompted sadness among regulars and visitors, with many paying tribute to the pub and the work carried out by Ms Palmer and her family over the past four years.

In a message shared after the final shift, Ms Palmer said the decision to close had come after a difficult period.

She said: “I write this with tears in my eyes.

“Our last shift is done. It’s a bittersweet moment. The relief is real, but so is the sadness.

“The reality now is that we’ll be selling our lease, before emptying the building that we’ve loved, worked for and sacrificed so much to create.

“With our lovely George being unwell, alongside months of relentless financial pressure, I’m not going to pretend, I’m ready for a rest.”

She also urged people to continue supporting local independent hospitality businesses, warning that many pubs and restaurants are facing pressures that customers may not always see.

Ms Palmer said: “If there’s one thing I’d ask of everyone, it’s this: please continue to support your local pubs, restaurants and independent businesses.

“From the outside they may look busy, but very few people see the reality of the costs involved or how much it takes just to serve that one drink or one meal.

“Independent hospitality can only survive if people continue to support it.

“Your kindness over the past few days is something we’ll never forget. The Hean has been a huge part of our lives, and so have all of you.”

Anyone interested in the lease is asked to contact Ms Palmer by emailing [email protected] or calling 07395 292881.

Welsh Government has not announced a rabbit licence scheme, but ministers say animal welfare laws could be reviewed

A CALL for people in Wales to complete a short course before owning a rabbit has sparked a political row, with critics branding the idea a “bunny licence” while welfare campaigners say rabbits are among the country’s most misunderstood pets.

Labour MS Mike Hedges raised the issue in the Senedd during First Minister’s Questions, arguing that Wales should consider a wider package of animal welfare reforms.

His suggestions included cat microchipping, a ban on long-term horse tethering, restrictions on private primate ownership, ending cage breeding of game birds, banning Larsen traps, and allowing rabbit ownership only after basic training.

Mr Hedges said people should show they understand the needs of rabbits before taking one on.

The Welsh Government has not announced any formal rabbit licence scheme, and First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth did not commit to introducing one.

However, he told the Senedd that Wales wanted to maintain high animal welfare standards and said legislation remained one option ministers would consider as part of a new animal health and welfare plan.

The exchange has prompted criticism from political opponents, with a Conservative source describing the idea as a “hare brained” proposal and accusing Labour of focusing on the wrong priorities.

But animal welfare charities say the row risks obscuring a more serious issue: rabbits are often bought cheaply, kept wrongly, bred accidentally, or abandoned when owners discover the cost and responsibility involved.

Rabbits are not low-maintenance pets. They need space, companionship, a suitable diet, enrichment, vaccinations, neutering, and regular veterinary care. They are also prey animals, meaning signs of illness or distress can be easy for inexperienced owners to miss.

The RSPCA says rabbits are one of the most misunderstood and neglected companion animals, with many kept alone, housed in unsuitable hutches, fed poor diets or denied proper veterinary care.

The charity says it has rescued more than 4,000 rabbits from abandonment and mistreatment in just two years, and is backing calls for stronger protection.

The Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund is also campaigning for rabbit breeders to be licensed, warning that online selling and mis-sexing of young rabbits can lead to unwanted litters and pressure on rescue centres.

In West Wales, Nibbles Rodent & Rabbit Rescue, based near Crymych, has already raised concerns about the way rabbits are protected under Welsh guidance.

The charity says the Welsh Code of Practice for the Welfare of Rabbits was published in 2009 and has never been formally reviewed, while the codes for dogs, cats and horses have been updated more recently.

Nibbles has launched its Rabbits Left Behind campaign, calling for the Welsh rabbit code to be reviewed and brought into line with modern welfare evidence.

Supporters of tougher rules argue that some form of owner education could help stop impulse purchases and reduce neglect. They say a short online course would be less about red tape and more about making sure people understand what they are taking on.

Opponents are likely to question whether such a system would be practical, affordable or enforceable. There may also be concerns that extra bureaucracy could discourage responsible people from adopting rabbits from rescue centres.

The Welsh Government already has a Code of Practice for the Welfare of Rabbits. It says owners must take reasonable steps to ensure rabbits have a suitable environment, a healthy diet, the ability to behave normally, appropriate company, and protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

For now, there is no confirmed plan to introduce compulsory rabbit training or a licence for owners in Wales.

But the Senedd exchange has reopened a wider debate about whether existing animal welfare guidance is enough, and whether rabbits should receive stronger legal protection similar to other companion animals.