News

Woman pleads guilty to stealing 89-year-old’s purse

Published

6 years ago

October 3, 2018

Tom Sinclair

A MILFORD HAVEN woman has been sent to prison after she pleaded guilty to taking a purse from an elderly person.

Marion Picton, aged 39, of Willow End, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday (Oct 2).

Prosecuting, Mr Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the Court: “The victim is a retired lady aged 89 and had gone to Tesco on September 8 to do some shopping. She took £50 out of the cash point and put it in her purse and then in her handbag and she put her bag into the trolley.

“She was shopping for 30 minutes and went back out to get a taxi and went to get her purse but realised it had gone.

“She went back into the store to see if anyone could help her and security checked the CCTV which showed the defendant taking the purse out of the trolley when the lady was looking in the other direction. She was traced and interviewed and admitted she took a purse that didn’t belong to her and made no comment to the other questions put to her.

“The lady says she lost the purse which cost her £30, £30 in cash and lost her keys which as a result she had to change the locks on her home. She is claiming £90 for the contents and £147.50 for the locks being changed.”

Defending, Mark Layton said: “This was a very unpleasant affair for someone of 89 years of age and Miss Picton has pleaded guilty. She has said from the outset that she would plead guilty. She says she was not aware of the age of the person and just saw the purse and took it.

“Whatever happens she will pay it and is genuinely sorry for her appearance in court.”

A probation officer did argue that a curfew would be sufficient to allow her to deal with her problems while Mr Layton added that a suspended sentence could have been imposed.

However, Magistrates said: “I do not think that stealing from an 89-year-old is a nice thing to do. You saw the woman and took the opportunity to steal her purse.

Picton was instead sent to prison for a period of 20 weeks. Once released she will also have to pay £237.60 in compensation and a £115 victim surcharge.

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

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

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

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

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

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.