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Public urged avoid Preseli Hills as further snow is forecast

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THE NATIONAL PARK, Dyfed-Powys Police and Pembrokeshire County Council are urging people to stay home and avoid travelling to the Preseli Hills with more snow forecast in the coming days.

The current Alert Level 4 restrictions in Wales require people to stay at home and not to travel without reasonable excuse. Exercise should begin and end at home and you must not drive to a location away from home for this purpose, unless you need to due to specific health or mobility issues.

National Park Authority North Area Ranger, Richard Vaughan said: “Already this year hundreds of people have headed to Preselis after a period of snow. Despite the fact they should not have been there in the first place, people were trespassing on private land including fields where livestock is present and leaving litter behind for somebody else to clean up.

“There will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy the snow on the Preselis once restrictions are lifted, but for now please stay home and protect each other, the emergency services and our farming communities.”

Superintendent of Pembrokeshire Division, Anthony Evans added: “We understand that this is a very difficult time for everyone, and that beauty spots such as the Preseli Hills are particularly tempting, especially with the forecast of snow. But there is very good reason for the level four restrictions and the requirement to stay at home.

“It’s been disappointing for officers carrying out high-visibility patrols in areas such as this, when they’ve seen scenes where hundreds of vehicles are present, and some had travelled considerable distances too. I must emphasise that everyone has a personal responsibility to adhere to Welsh Government essential travel lockdown restrictions at this time due to the risks posed. Where engagement with people fails, fixed penalty notices have and will be issued to blatant breaches.”

Cllr Phil Baker, Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, said: “Travelling to the Preseli Hills or anywhere else following snow fall is not essential travel, no matter how tempting. Driving in slippery conditions also makes the chances of being involving in an accident far greater at a time when our health services are already stretched.

“During snow and icy conditions our Winter Maintenance teams will be out gritting roads and inconsiderate parking also makes it far more difficult for them to carry out their important work.

“Please take responsibility for keeping yourself and your family safe by staying home and not putting others at risk should you break down or require rescue.”

For full details of what you can and can’t do under the Welsh Government’s Alert Level 4 restrictions please visit https://gov.wales/alert-level-4.

For the latest covid-19 service updates from the National Park Authority visit www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/coronavirus.

Crime

Police issue update following incident at Tenby multi-storey

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Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed this morning that they are investigating a collision on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park in Tenby, at around 4pm on Thursday, January 2.

The collision, police said, involved a grey Nissan Qashqai and a young child.

The child remains in a critical condition in hospital.

The family are being supported by specially trained officers.

One man, aged 33, has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury through dangerous driving, drink driving, and drug driving. He remains in police custody.

Police issued a statement saying: “This is a tragic incident and is a live investigation.

“We ask that you do not speculate the circumstances and allow our officers to carry out their enquiries.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage that could help officers with their investigation is asked to report it to us, either online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

Quote reference 25*6238”

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News

Milford sex offender’s child abuse images ‘most disturbing imaginable’

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A 40-YEAR-OLD man from Pembrokeshire has been sentenced to 22 months in prison after being found with nearly 40,000 indecent images of children, including some of the most disturbing nature imaginable. Jason Church, a father of young children, appeared at Swansea Crown Court where he faced multiple charges related to child exploitation.

The investigation began when police traced suspicious online activity linked to Church’s home in Milford Haven. On August 23, 2023, officers executed a search warrant at his residence, during which Church admitted to having incriminating material on his mobile phone. He explicitly stated to the police, “It’s on my phone, what you’re looking for” when questioned about the nature of the images.

Upon examination of his Samsung device, authorities uncovered a staggering collection: 2,688 images classified as Category A (the most severe), along with 4,160 Category B images and an alarming 32,205 Category C images. Among these horrific images were videos depicting the sexual abuse of very young children, including a baby. Additionally, officers discovered a 170-page manual that provided detailed guidance on how to exploit children and evade detection.

In court, prosecutor Ashanti-Jade Walton highlighted the graphic content of the material found and emphasised the seriousness of Church’s offences. Despite his previous clean record, Church pleaded guilty to all charges against him. His defence barrister noted that Church was aware of the severity of his actions and had sought help from organizations aimed at preventing child exploitation.

Judge Huw Rees condemned Church’s actions as “unhealthy” and a significant danger to children. He stated, “These are not just images; they represent real victims,” reinforcing the gravity of Church’s crimes and the impact they have on real lives.

In addition to his prison sentence, Church is required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years following his release.

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Community

Welsh Water distribute free cold weather lagging kits

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AS the winter season is in full swing and the temperature drops, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is offering free winter lagging kits to help households across Wales prepare for the colder months. With over 2,500 kits available, the initiative aims to assist residents in protecting their homes against frozen pipes and costly bursts.

Frozen pipes can lead to unwanted damage and unnecessary stress during the winter season, but with the right preparation the risks can be minimised.
The winter lagging kit includes pipe insulation and a tap jacket – with lagging designed to protect exposed pipes and a tap jacket to prevent outdoor taps from freezing and bursting.

“We understand how challenging winter can be for many people, which can be made worse should the unexpected happened – such as a experiencing a frozen or burst pipe,” said Euan Hampton, Water Demand – Delivery Manager at Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. “To help ease the pressures winter can bring, we’re offering free pipe lagging kits and tap jackets as part of our ongoing commitment to helping communities stay safe, warm, and secure throughout the colder months.”

In addition to distributing free lagging kits and tap jackets. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water recommends the following tips to help residents prepare their homes:

Locate your stop tap: Knowing the location of your stop tap is essential in the case of an emergency. If your pipes freeze or burst, you’ll want to shut the water off to minimise damage.
Clear your gutters: Blocked gutters can lead to excess water accessing your home, especially during a storm.
Insulate pipes: Not only outdoor pipes need preparing, think of areas that may be at risk to cold weather – attics or uninsulated cupboards.
Fix those drips: Dripping taps can increase the risk of frozen pipes. Fixing it will also save you litres of water every day, saving both energy and money on your water bill.
Away from home? Empty buildings are at particular risk. If you’re leaving your home for a prolonged period, turn off your stop tap and drain down the system – so there is no water in the system to freeze. If you’re away for a short time, if you can, we suggest keeping your heating on low to help keep your home warm and prevent pipes from freezing.
The free kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To request a free winter lagging kit or tap jacket, customers can visit: www.dwrcymru.com/en/winter-ready

Alongside the helpful tips to prepare your home this winter and advice on how to manage any issues should they arise. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water are also offering free water efficiency home visits to all domestic customers – and the free lagging kit and tap jackets can be installed as part of the visit.

If you would like to find out more ways you could start saving, visit: www.dwrcymru.com/en/help-advice/cartref/water-efficiency-home-visit

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