A CARMARTHENSHIRE man has been convicted of murdering his son’s partner after falsely claiming she was scamming him out of his mother’s house deeds.

Richard Jones, 50, of Burry Port, was found guilty at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Feb 1) after a jury took less than three hours to reject his defence of diminished responsibility. He will be sentenced on Monday (Mar 3), when the court will determine the minimum term he must serve before being eligible for parole.

Harrowing details revealed

The court heard that Sophie Evans, 30, a mother of two, was found dead in her home on Bigyn Road, Llanelli, on Friday (Jul 5 2024). She had been strangled and left lying face down on the kitchen floor, covered only by a bath towel. A post-mortem confirmed she died from compression to the neck, with defensive wounds indicating she had fought for her life.

Jones, a regular visitor to Ms Evans’ home, was arrested later that day after making multiple calls and messages to family and friends. During police interviews, he admitted to killing her but claimed he had “lost his head” when she failed to acknowledge an alleged scam.

The jury was shown messages exchanged between Jones and his ex-partner, Tracey Thompson, in which he called his son, Jamie Davies, and Ms Evans “scamming thieves” and stated he had “taken care of the problem.”

Prosecution: ‘Callous indifference’

During the trial, consultant psychiatrist Dr Dilum Jayawickrama told the court that Jones was “100% certain in his beliefs” that he had been tricked into signing over his mother’s property. However, prosecutor Mike Jones argued that Jones “was not experiencing significant emotional distress” at the time of the killing and had shown “callous indifference” to his actions.

He highlighted Jones’ behaviour in the aftermath of the murder, including CCTV footage capturing him leaving the crime scene in a hurry before stopping at a bakery to buy food. Later, he returned home to Burry Port, where he was arrested.

‘Scumbag’ shouts in court

As Jones was led to the cells following the verdict, shouts of “scumbag” erupted from the public gallery. Jurors received applause from members of the public as they exited the courtroom.

Judge Geraint Walters told the court that the only sentence available for murder is life imprisonment. He will decide on Monday (Mar 3) the minimum number of years Jones must serve before being considered for release.

Until then, Jones remains in custody.

EDUCATION Cabinet Secretary Lynne Neagle MS has officially opened Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Penfro, a new £13.9 million Welsh-medium primary school in Pembroke.

The state-of-the-art facility, designed for pupils aged three to 11, was funded through the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, alongside the Welsh Medium Capital Grant, the Childcare Offer Capital Grant, and Pembrokeshire County Council.

Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Penfro welcomed its first pupils last September and currently has 148 children enrolled. The development includes:

A 33-place full-day childcare provision available year-round

A 30-place nursery

A 210-place primary school

The Cabinet Secretary was greeted at the school today (Thursday, January 30) by Cllr Steve Alderman, Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, and Executive Headteacher Dafydd Hughes.

Mr Hughes said the investment from the Welsh Government and Pembrokeshire County Council had created an outstanding educational facility. He described it as “an exciting new chapter for Welsh-medium education in Pembrokeshire, following in the footsteps of Ysgol Hafan y Môr in Tenby and Ysgol Caer Elen in Haverfordwest.”

Before unveiling a plaque to mark the occasion, Lynne Neagle told pupils: “It is a privilege to officially open this fantastic new school and see first-hand how it will empower the learners at Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Penfro, as well as providing Flying Start childcare.

“This investment, through the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, reflects our commitment to Welsh-medium education and meeting the Cymraeg 2050 targets. I’m grateful to Pembrokeshire County Council and everyone who has helped make this remarkable facility a reality.”

The Minister later toured the school, seeing the new facilities in action.

Cllr Guy Woodham, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, said the new school marked a significant step forward in the Council’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP).

“This is yet another historic day for the Welsh language in Pembrokeshire,” he said. “The opening of a brand-new Welsh-medium school to serve the south-west of the county is a hugely significant milestone and a fitting tribute to the strong foundations laid by the former Welsh stream of Ysgol Gelli Aur / Golden Grove School.

“Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Penfro demonstrates that the status of the Welsh language is being fully supported by Pembrokeshire County Council, and my sincere congratulations go to all those who have worked to make this possible.”

The main contractors for the project were Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure Ltd.

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WALES, Jo Stevens MP, was in Pembrokeshire today to confirm that the county will be part of a pilot project for green energy. Speaking to The Pembrokeshire Herald, she said: “I welcome the skills pilot in Pembrokeshire, calling it a crucial step in securing a workforce for clean energy expansion in the Celtic Sea.” Economy Secretary Rebecca Evans added: “This initiative, led by the Welsh Government, will unlock vast opportunities for green jobs and energy security.”

Thousands of workers will benefit from government-backed training as part of a major skills investment to prepare the UK for a clean energy future by 2030. Key regions, including Aberdeen, Cheshire, Lincolnshire, and Pembrokeshire, have been identified for growth in offshore wind, nuclear, and solar industries under the government’s Plan for Change.

The initiative will provide funding for local training centres, courses, and career advisors, equipping workers with skills in welding, electrical engineering, and construction. The government has also launched a long-awaited ‘skills passport’ to help oil and gas workers transition into renewable energy jobs, particularly offshore wind. Developed in collaboration with industry and the Scottish Government, the online tool will guide workers into roles such as construction and maintenance.

Funding to drive economic transformation

The government has allocated initial funding to Cheshire West and Chester, North and North East Lincolnshire, and Pembrokeshire, with around £1 million earmarked for each area. Aberdeen, which has already completed extensive skills mapping, will be considered for further funding later this year.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Our Plan for Change is about more than clean power; it’s about reindustrialising Britain with well-paid, union jobs in industrial communities. We are ensuring that British workers seize the opportunities clean power brings.”

Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy Gillian Martin highlighted Scotland’s commitment, stating: “It is vital that we support oil and gas workers in transitioning to sustainable jobs. The Energy Skills Passport ensures their expertise is recognised and applied in our fair and managed transition to net zero.”

Building a skilled workforce

Research by Offshore Energies UK shows that 90% of oil and gas workers possess skills relevant to the clean energy transition. From January 22, workers can use the skills passport to access four career pathways, with further expansion planned over the next year.

The government has also confirmed contracts for the UK’s first carbon capture project in Teesside, reinforcing its commitment to transforming industrial heartlands. Employers will receive a handbook outlining available support for workforce growth and upskilling.

Industry and government backing

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens welcomed the skills pilot in Pembrokeshire, calling it a crucial step in securing a workforce for clean energy expansion in the Celtic Sea. Economy Secretary Rebecca Evans added: “This initiative, led by the Welsh Government, will unlock vast opportunities for green jobs and energy security.”

Cheshire West and Chester Council leader Cllr Louise Gittins said the initiative would play a “crucial role” in transitioning workers to clean energy sectors. Midlands Net Zero Hub head Jack Hayhoe stressed that strategic skills investment could unlock £15 billion of economic growth in the next five years.

A roadmap to net zero

The Energy Secretary is convening a roundtable with industry, education, and trade union leaders to ensure the UK workforce is prepared for the clean energy transition. The regional skills funding comes from the Office for Clean Energy Skills Fund, with key partnerships supporting skills mapping and training development.

The Plan for Change aims to unlock £40 billion of annual investment, securing thousands of jobs and positioning Britain as a global leader in clean energy.