A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been found not guilty of breaching a restraining order after being accused of referencing a protected individual in a Facebook post.

Philip Stoddart, 58, of Monkhill Farm, St Ishmaels, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Jan 20) to face the charge. The prosecution, led by Ann Griffiths on behalf of the crown, alleged that between December 4 and December 13, 2023, Stoddart made a Facebook post that, by inference, referred to a person he was prohibited from contacting under a restraining order imposed by Swansea Crown Court on April 16, 2021.

The restraining order, issued under Section 360 of the Sentencing Act 2020, barred Stoddart from making any form of contact with her.

Prosecutors argued that the Facebook post constituted a breach of the order, contrary to Section 363 of the same act.

Stoddart denied the allegations and entered a not guilty plea during a prior hearing on October 1, 2024.

Magistrates Professor N. Negus, Mr. J. Steadman, and Mrs. J. Morris presided over the trial, which concluded on Monday.

After reviewing the evidence, the bench found Stoddart not guilty, dismissing the case.

The dismissal brings to a close legal proceedings that had been ongoing for over a year.

HENRY TUFNELL MP has welcomed new government measures to address poor-quality insulation and energy efficiency installations under schemes such as ECO4.

The announcement introduces stronger consumer protections, following Henry’s consistent advocacy on behalf of his constituents and his recent interventions in the House of Commons.

The government’s measures include:

• Stricter enforcement against non-compliant installers.
• Enhanced support for homeowners to resolve complaints.
• Mandatory compliance with TrustMark standards for all work under these schemes, ensuring adherence to the highest levels of quality through the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).
• A strengthened complaints process via TrustMark to safeguard households and improve accountability.

Henry Tufnell MP has been a vocal advocate for addressing substandard insulation. Last month, he submitted two written parliamentary questions to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, highlighting constituents’ concerns and urging greater oversight.

Today, speaking in the House of Commons, Henry reiterated the importance of robust regulation, stating:

“I am so pleased that our new Labour government is taking immediate action on this issue. No one should have to deal with substandard installations or bear the cost of shoddy workmanship. I will work closely with the government to ensure that these measures deliver real change for affected households.”

Henry urged constituents experiencing issues with recent installations to visit the TrustMark website for guidance on lodging complaints: www.trustmark.org.uk/homeowner/support/complaints-process.

FIREFIGHTERS from Milford Haven were called to a fire at a derelict property in Marine Gardens, Milford Haven, on Tuesday evening (Jan 21).

The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service received the call at 8:34pm, reporting smoke issuing from the chimney of the property, which measured approximately 10 metres by 7 metres.

Firefighters accessed the building using small tools and located the fire in a first-floor bedroom.

The blaze was extinguished using a knapsack sprayer and thermal imaging camera.

The crew left the scene at 9:48pm.

The cause of the fire is believed to have been deliberate.

A spokesperson for the fire brigade said: “Arson is a serious crime that can cause significant damage, endanger lives, and place additional pressure on emergency services.”