News

No investigation into paedophile youth worker one year on

Published

8 years ago

May 14, 2018

AN INVESTIGATION into how a convicted paedophile was employed by Pembrokeshire County Council as a youth worker has yet to have been carried out by the Cabinet.

The head of Pembrokeshire County Council’s youth services department gave paedophile Michael ‘Mik’ Smith a positive reference on an application to register as a foster carer.

The reference was given following two council investigations into Smith’s inappropriate conduct towards children, which had resulted in Smith being given a written warning.

The same council officer gave Smith the positive reference for a 2010 fostering application as had previously handed down Smith’s written warning.

In June 2017 the full report on Smith was made public, following a long campaign by Cllr Mike Stoddart.

However now, nearly one year on, a Cabinet investigation has yet to be carried out.

Cllr Stoddart said at the last meeting of Full Council: “Can the leader give a progress report on the investigation set up by Cabinet in June 2017 into the authority’s failures during its dealings with former youth worker Mik Smith?”

A meeting has been scheduled for June 4, he was told, after a previous attempt to start up a group had failed.

Cllr Neil Prior said: “We will be sitting down with a blank piece of paper to agree terms of reference so we can move forward – it’s been a difficult matter.”

Cllr Prior added that an independent chairman would also be picked for the task.

Cllr Stoddart, who had attended the previous meeting, then queried how much was budgeted for the group, adding: “There were three independent consultants at that meeting. I understand an independent consultant is to be chairman, I don’t recall that in the resolution of cabinet.”

Cllr Prior assured Cllr Stoddart that he will provide full details to all members.

The full report of Mik Smith can be read here.

News

Pembroke Dock man sent to Crown Court over alleged ABH assault

Published

28 minutes ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Charge relates to incident in the town last weekend

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been sent to the Crown Court for trial after appearing before magistrates accused of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Darren Markes, aged 47, of High Street, Pembroke Dock, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard that Markes is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to the Offences Against the Person Act.

The charge relates to an alleged incident on Friday (Dec 13) in Pembroke Dock, when it is alleged that Markes assaulted a woman, causing her actual bodily harm.

No plea was entered at the hearing.

Due to the seriousness of the allegation, magistrates declined jurisdiction and ordered that the case be sent to the Crown Court for trial under the Crime and Disorder Act.

Markes was remanded on conditional bail. Conditions include:

Not contacting a witness, directly or indirectly
Reporting to Pembroke Dock police station every Wednesday between 12:00pm and 2:00pm
Living and sleeping each night at his home address

He is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Jan 16) at 9:30am for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Crime

Aberystwyth man denies criminal damage charge over Cardigan gallery window

Published

30 minutes ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Alleged incident said to have taken place on Bridge Street

AN ABERYSTWYTH man has denied a charge of criminal damage relating to an alleged incident in Cardigan.

Ricky Myers, aged 27, of Jasper House, Aberystwyth, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard that Myers is accused of criminal damage to property valued under £5,000, contrary to the Criminal Damage Act 1971.

The charge relates to an incident on Saturday (Aug 24, 2024) at Manchester House on Bridge Street, Cardigan, where it is alleged that a window at the Cardigan Gallery was damaged. The property is said to belong to Peter Austin.

Myers pleaded not guilty to the allegation.

Magistrates adjourned the case for further case management, and Myers was remanded on conditional bail, with a condition that he live and sleep each night at his home address.

He is due to return to court at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 17) at 2:00pm.

Crime

Pembroke Dock man remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on string of offences

Published

32 minutes ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Harassment charge and three assaults among cases listed for Llanelli court

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing after admitting a series of offences, including harassment and assaults.

Tony Brundrett, aged 21, of Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard Brundrett has pleaded guilty to harassment without violence, contrary to the Protection from Harassment Act. The charge alleges that between Tuesday (Sep 17) and Thursday (Oct 31) at Spring View, Pembroke Dock, he pursued a course of conduct amounting to harassment of a female, including attending her home address and contacting her by text message.

He has also admitted assault by beating against the same female, alleged to have taken place on Wednesday (May 21) at Spring View, Pembroke Dock, and a further assault by beating against a second female on Thursday (Oct 30), also at Spring View.

Magistrates were additionally told that Brundrett faces a further allegation of common assault against a third female, said to have occurred on Tuesday (Dec 9) at Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock. No plea was recorded to that matter in the register entry.

Brundrett has also pleaded guilty to a number of offences linked to an incident in Haverfordwest on Saturday (Nov 16). These include:

Aggravated vehicle taking, involving a Vauxhall Corsa, with damage caused before recovery
Using a motor vehicle without insurance
Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence
Criminal damage, involving a window belonging to Pembrokeshire County Council

He was remanded in custody, with the next hearing listed at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 31) at 10:00am.