News
Man sentenced to extra 14 months in jail for £22,000 forged cheque
A PEMBROKE DOCK man who forged a cheque for £22,000 has been sentenced to an additional 14 months in jail.
Rhys Blow, aged 29, is already serving a 30-month sentence after he drove away in another man’s car with the owner’s six-year-old daughter on the back seat.
Blow, who lived in London Road before being jailed last July, today (May 11) admitted attempted fraud.
Swansea Crown Court heard how he had been a chef at the Lamphey Hall Hotel and crept into the manager’s office and stole a blank cheque.
Blow, who was drinking heavily at the time, was sacked the following day.
The day after that, said the judge Mr Recorder Greg Bull, Blow filled in the cheque making it out to himself in the sum of £22,000.
Blow tried to cash the cheque at a local Barclays but the staff became suspicious and refused to honour it.
David Williams, the barrister representing Blow, said he had been questioned by police about the matter after he had been arrested for the drink-drive offence involving the girl.
On that occasion, he climbed into the driver’s side as the owner refuelled at the Texaco garage on the Withybush industrial estate in Haverfordwest and drove away with the owner trying frantically to hold on.
Blow crashed the car a few seconds later.
Mr Williams said he should have been sentenced for both sets of offending back in July, 2017.
Mr Recorder Bull said he would have received a consecutive sentence in any event.
He said Blow had made a determined but also drunken attempt to get a large sum of money from his employer and his offending represented a serious breach of trust.
The 14 month sentence, he added, would run from today.
Community
Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity
THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.
Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.
The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.
Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.
Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.
(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)
Business
Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure
PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.
The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.
The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.
A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”
Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.
Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.
From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.
Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.
(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)
Community
Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend
ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.
In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”
Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.
Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.
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