News

Five mile travel restriction could be in place all summer

Published

6 years ago

June 9, 2020

THE First Minister, Mark Drakeford has said the five-mile travel limit may remain in place all summer.

Speaking at the Welsh Government’s coronavirus briefing earlier today (June 9), Mr Drakeford said easing travel restrictions was “not on my list of things to change”.

The current five mile travel guideline in Wales was part of the first stage of the lockdown lifdown, the three-week review period end’s on June 18.

This means the current travel guideline is likely to stay in force until July 10 at the earliest.

“We have no immediate plans to lift the stay-local message in Wales,” said Mr Drakeford.

Adding that it is still likely to remain in place if and when parts of Wales’ tourism industry reopens.

The possibility of holiday cottages and self-catered flats to reopen for business later this summer has been discussed, but the Hotel and B&B rooms situation would be more difficult.

Mr Drakeford said: “It’s a difficult tightrope to walk because we want to lift lockdown measures further but we don’t want people to run away with the idea that coronavirus is over.

“Even if we are down to 50 new cases every day, we have no idea who those 50 people might be, because coronavirus is a silent spreader. So it’s still very important to carry on with social distancing and with staying local.”

The five-mile guideline will still remain crucial for self catered accommodation. Guests would still have to limit their travel to the guideline and refrain from meeting lots of people.

He added “There is, in a public health sense, I think, a distinction to be drawn between people who have their own kitchen, their own bathroom.

“That will be different, I think, to someone travelling to stay somewhere where they are sharing kitchens, sharing showers, sharing toilets, where inevitably the level of risk would be great.”
Guests would not be “meeting lots of different people,”

Speaking about when the Welsh tourism industry might be likely to re-open, Mr Drakeford said there would need to be “community consent” and recognised the varying factors across Wales, especially in North West and South West Wales where there have been very low levels of the virus confirmed.

There are no plans in Wales for the re-opening of restaurants and pubs, which have been discussed in England.

Sports fixtures, mass gatherings and concerts are expected not to resume until 2021.

The next lockdown announcement is expected to take place on June 19.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

9 minutes 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 serious allegations following his appearance in the latest magistrates’ court register.

David Guy, 49, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared in court facing multiple charges, all of which have now been deemed too serious for summary trial.

Multiple charges listed in register

The new magistrates’ register shows Guy charged with several offences arising from the same case file. Although individual charge descriptions were not expanded in open court, the register confirms the allegations include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second assault charge
Criminal damage
A further interpersonal violence allegation
A public order offence

All entries relate to the same incident and prosecution reference, presented as a multi-count case.

Defendant remanded into custody

Magistrates ruled that their sentencing powers were insufficient and sent the entire case to Swansea Crown Court for trial.

Guy was remanded in custody, with the register stating: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A hearing date will now be fixed administratively by the Crown Court. Until then, Guy remains remanded.

The Herald will provide updates once the Crown Court listing is confirmed.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

16 minutes 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 of alleged offences including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, 40, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, faces six linked charges arising from incidents reported to have taken place earlier this year. Alcock, who did not enter pleas during the administrative hearings, appeared on several occasions as the court dealt with bail issues and case management.

Multiple assault allegations
The charges listed before magistrates include:
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional strangulation
Common assault of a woman
Criminal damage relating to a domestic incident
Further assault allegations linked to the same complainant
A breach of bail conditions

The court heard that Alcock had previously been granted conditional bail. However, he was brought back before magistrates twice during the same reporting period for alleged breaches of those conditions, resulting in updated bail decisions.

Bail breached — defendant remanded

On two separate entries in the court register, Alcock was listed as having breached his bail, leading magistrates to remand him into custody pending the next hearing. On other dates within the same week, he was again re-released on conditional bail, with strict terms imposed, including restrictions on contact with the complainant and exclusions from certain locations.

He is now remanded on conditional bail with his next appearance set for Swansea Crown Court, where the more serious matters — including the alleged non-fatal strangulation — will be dealt with.

Case sent to Crown Court

Magistrates directed that the case is too serious to be heard locally and must proceed to the Crown Court for trial or sentence.

The Herald understands that all listed charges fall under the same prosecution reference, indicating they form part of a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution. No further details were opened in court at this stage.

Crime

Rogue roofer conned homeowner out of thousands

Published

32 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Caerphilly investigation leads to court conviction

A ROGUE trader from Pembroke has been ordered to pay more than £6,000 after duping a homeowner into handing over thousands for unnecessary roofing work.

Douggie Whitbread, aged twenty-five and living at Coldwell Terrace, Pembroke, persuaded his victim that he “probably needed a new roof” before charging £4,350 for work that was either unnecessary or not carried out properly.

Whitbread admitted two counts of fraud relating to a property on Griffiths Street, Ystrad Mynach, with the offences taking place between August 12 and October 16, 2023.

He appeared before Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court, where he was ordered to pay a total of £6,130. That includes £4,350 in compensation, £1,500 in prosecution costs, a £200 fine, and an £80 victim surcharge.

The case was brought following an investigation by Caerphilly Trading Standards, who urged residents to be cautious of unsolicited offers of home maintenance work.