News

Horror ordeal at hands of a violent husband

Published

11 years ago

June 4, 2014

A PEMBROKESHIRE woman was hospitalised as a result of a violent attack made against her by her husband. In an interview with The Herald, Julie Manwaring, 36, of Haverfordwest, spoke of the attack and her fears for the future.

The incident occurred this February in the couple’s Yeovil home, where husband of Mrs Manwaring, Paul Manwaring, 51 also of Haverfordwest, attacked his wife with a hammer and went on to put boiling hot water over her, causing substantial injuries resulting in Julie Manwaring needing metal plates in one of her fingers. Paul Manwaring, having plead guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, was sentenced at Taunton Crown Court on Friday May 23 and jailed for nine years. Julie Manwaring spoke about her six and a half year relationship with her husband. “I hadn’t seen any violence before, but I know he had been in trouble with the police in his twenties, had been arrested, but never charged and had no criminal record. He was aggressive, verbally, very opinionated, and stubborn and he could be hard work as it was ‘his way or no way’. He was no angel and was manipulative. He used controlling behaviour, sometimes not speaking to me for a week over something I hadn’t done but wanted an apology for anyway. He had pushed me a couple of times.” Asked about what could have driven Mr Manwaring to such a violent act, Julie Manwaring went on to say, “He knew a break up was on the cards. We had talked about it. I had said I wasn’t happy and the reasons were given, well, he just wouldn’t accept them. He didn’t want the relationship to end and speaking about a previous marriage he had had he said he’d ‘been done over before’ and he said he wouldn’t ‘let’ it happen again. A sort of veiled threat.” She went on to describe the incident. “I got out of the house and ran to a neighbour who then called the police. He (Mr Manwaring) had called for an ambulance. It seemed like they were forever, but I was in shock. Police took a statement from me after he (Paul Manwaring) had given himself up to arrest. The officer who took my statement was horrified.” Mrs Manwaring described how she felt about the sentencing and what this now meant to her life. “The sentence was what I expected, but he’ll be out in four and a half years. Also what’s a joke is that he served three months on remand and for every day on remand it counts as two days off a sentence. I am really worried about what happens when he comes out. It was all so out of the blue (the violence). It could happen again. People who have visited him in prison say he isn’t remorseful and he doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong. I escaped but what plays on my mind is what if I hadn’t? Should I move or change identity? I was waiting to see what happened with the sentencing but I think for safety I may have to find a new job, a new house and change my surname to make it harder for him to find me.” In conclusion she said, “I am so sad about the whole situation, it’s such a waste. It’s been expensive as well, as I was off work unpaid for two months. On top of that, of course, the insurance will not pay out for the damage he did to the house.”

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

12 hours 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

19 hours 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

20 hours 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.