News
Staff worried as Debenhams enters administration
DEBENHAMS employees in Wales are fearing for their job security, after the department store chain announced a takeover by its lenders.
The lenders, Barclays, Bank of Ireland, and hedge funds Silver Point Capital and GoldenTree Asset Management, will now try to sell the business as soon as possible.
Whilst all stores are set to stay open for now, up to 50 branches have been earmarked for closure in the future.
A list of which shops may be shut has not been released, but it is expected that some closures will affect Wales.
Debenhams is the largest department store chain in the UK, with 166 stores and roughly 25,000 employees. In Wales, there are stores in Haverfordwest, Carmarthen, Llanelli, Swansea, Cardiff, Bangor, Wrexham, Newport, Merthyr and Llandudno.
The chain has passed through a pre-pack administration process, which allows a company sell itself or its assets, as a going concern, without affecting the operation of the business. Yet this will see shareholders lose their investments in the company.
Mike Ashley, founder and owner of Sports Direct, held a near-30% stake in the company, which had cost around £150m to build up, and on Monday (Apr 8), Debenhams rejected a £150m rescue offer from Sports Direct. Early on Tuesday a £200m offer was also rejected, as it would have seen Mr Ashley made Chief Executive and the lenders were suspicious of his intentions. Many thought that Ashley hoped to merge Debenhams and House of Fraser, which he acquired in 2018 after it entered administration.
Three years ago Debenhams was worth £900m, as of this week it is now worth £20m. Three profit warnings were issued last year, and 2018 also saw a record pre-tax loss of £491.5m. The chain also has a debt pile of £622m.
(Pictured The opening of Debenhams in Haverfordwest in 2013 – Herald archive)
Crime
Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident
A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.
Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.
The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:
- Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
- Common assault
- Assault by beating
No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.
Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.
Crime
Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges
Defendant remanded in custody
A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.
David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
- A second count of assault
- Criminal damage
- An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
- A public order offence
Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.
Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”
A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.
The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.
Crime
Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults
Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing
A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.
Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.
During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.
Charges Include:
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
- Intentional non-fatal strangulation
- Common assault on a woman
- Criminal damage in a domestic context
- Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
- Breach of bail conditions
Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.
Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.
No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.
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