News

Pembrokeshire postmaster cleared of fraud by the Court of Appeal

Published

5 years ago

July 19, 2021

A FORMER sub-postmaster from Roch who was part of the Horizon computer system scandal has finally cleared his name after an 11 year battle.

Tim Brentnall from Roach, Pembrokeshire, was one of 736 former Post Office managers who were prosecuted due to the flawed Horizon computer system.

In part of a landmark case, Mr Brentnall was one of 31 cases heard at the court of appeal on Monday (July 19) who had their convictions overturned.

There were 12 sub-postmasters who had their names cleared by the Court of Appeal on Monday (Pic Sky News)

The flawed system wrongly showed shortfalls in sub-postmasters’ accounts leading the prosecution of 736 sub-postmasters between 2000 and 2014.

Mr Brentnall, who took over the post office aged just 22, said it has taken 16 years to clear his name and get his conviction overturned.

After a Post Office audit at his branch in 2009, showing a £22,000 shortfall, Mr Brentnall was then prosecuted in 2010 for false accounting.

Speaking on the ordeal, Tim Brentnall said: “I was immediately suspended and within a few days taken to Haverfordwest police station for interviews,” he said.

“It was horrific. I felt totally alone and helpless.”

Despite protesting his innocence, Tim said he was told to plead guilty to the charge to lessen the sentence.

He was sentenced to an 18-month suspended prison sentence and ordered to undergo 200 hours of unpaid work.

Mr Brentnalls parents even tried to take out a loan to cover the £22,000 shortfall to prove their son’s innocence, but Tim was prosecuted shortly after.

Two years after his prosecution, Tim learned he was not alone and that many other sub-post masters also fell foul to the flawed system.

Flaws that made it seem that money was going missing from Post Office branches.

The scandal is believed to be one of the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history.

The Post Office confirmed they would not be contesting the appeal for Mr Bretnall overturned conviction.

An independent inquiry into the scandal has been given extra powers and many are still waiting to find out if they will receive any compensation from the ordeal.

Mr Brentnall told how he faced backlash in his small local community following the conviction and struggled to gain any further employment.

He said: “I didn’t want to go to the village pub because people were talking and saying ‘he says he hasn’t done anything, but he’s pleaded guilty, so there’s no smoke without fire’.

“I lost sleep for a number of years, lost friendships, and all because people didn’t believe what I was saying.”

His father StJohn Brentnall said: “The stigma of a conviction and the character assassination that Tim has had to bear for the last 10 years, it has been horrible to see him lose his self-confidence.

“But he stood it, he got through it and we feel very proud of him.”

Speaking after having his conviction overturned, Mr Bretnall added: “I can stand with my head held high again and say to everyone I was right – I haven’t done anything wrong and it was this system that the Post Office forced on people.”

“There’s still a fight to try to hold the people who did this to account.

“There are people who’ve known what was going on but tried to sweep it under the carpet. I don’t want to rest until people have been brought to account.”

Crime

Neighbourhood policing boosted across Dyfed-Powys

Published

1 hour ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE has announced a significant expansion of its Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Teams (NPPT), with more officers being deployed to frontline roles where demand is greatest.

From Monday (Mar 16), teams across the force area have been strengthened, with a renewed focus on tackling antisocial behaviour and preventing crime at its source.

The force says the move is aimed at reducing repeat demand by addressing the root causes of offending, rather than simply responding to incidents.

To achieve this, a number of officers have been redeployed from central departments back into frontline policing, while new posts are also being created to bolster capacity.

Temporary Chief Superintendent Steve Davies, head of uniform policing, said: “These changes are about increasing frontline visibility and ensuring we have the right resources in the right places.

“They form part of a wider programme of improvements across the force to enhance effectiveness and efficiency, while also supporting the wellbeing of our officers and staff.

“This is positive news for our communities, who will benefit from stronger neighbourhood teams focused on local priorities and proactive policing.”

The expansion has been made possible through Home Office funding under the Neighbourhood Guarantee scheme, which is designed to strengthen community safety and crime prevention.

Dyfed-Powys Police has been allocated £1.4 million for 2025/26, enabling the recruitment of police staff and freeing up officers previously in support roles to return to operational duties.

As a result, four sergeants and 29 police officers have now been reassigned to neighbourhood teams across the force.

Each NPPT area will also have a named officer, with full team details available via the ‘Your Area’ section of the Dyfed-Powys Police website.

The force has also secured early access to 2026/27 Neighbourhood Guarantee funding, which will see a further 12 officers recruited between April and the autumn—adding to overall officer numbers in the region.

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: “Neighbourhood policing is about more than numbers—it’s about relationships.

“Greater visibility helps build trust, strengthens community ties, and reassures the public that policing is present, responsive, and committed to keeping people safe.

“I remain committed to improving police visibility across our communities, and these additional officers will help turn that ambition into reality.”

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

1 hour ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.