News

Council tax support scheme extended

Published

11 years ago

June 24, 2014

PEOPLE ON low incomes in Pembrokeshire will not face any changes to their Council Tax payments for at least another two years, following a review of Council Tax Support by the Welsh Government.

Households deemed too poor to pay their Council Tax will be protected from increased payments at least until 2016 thanks to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme funded by the Welsh Government, which is set to continue for another two years. Around 320,000 households across Wales will be protected by the scheme, and over 200,000 households will pay no Council Tax at all. The Welsh Government introduced the all-Wales Scheme to help vulnerable families who had been badly affected by the UK Coalition Government’s welfare reforms, in particular the abolition of Council Tax Benefit in 2010. The scheme was designed to help mitigate some of the worst hardship caused by the welfare cuts, and to shield Welsh local authorities from the risks and costs of dealing with large numbers of unpaid Council Tax bills. In England, where no support is available for people who cannot afford to pay their Council Tax, there has been a 30% increase in the number of liability orders issued by Magistrate Courts for the non-payment of Council Tax since 2010. Delyth Evans, Labour Parliamentary Candidate for South Pembrokeshire, welcomed the decision: “Low income families who are struggling to make ends meet will be very relieved to know they won’t face any extra Council Tax charges. “The Labour Government in Cardiff has looked at the evidence in England where the abolition of Council Tax benefits has caused tremendous distress and hardship and created huge problems for local authorities having to pursue non-payment of bills. “This is a good decision and shows the Welsh Government is protecting people on low incomes against the worst excesses of the UK Government’s policies.”

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

9 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

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

Published

10 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

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

Published

10 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

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.