News

Trial set for DJ accused of distributing racist and anti-Semitic podcasts

Published

5 years ago

September 15, 2021

A TRIAL date has been set for a man accused of distributing racist and anti-Semitic podcasts from a Pembrokeshire-based internet radio station.

James Allchurch, 49, who told the courts he wants to be known by his DJ name, Sven Longshanks, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday morning (Sept 15).

He is currently of no fixed abode, but is formerly of Chapel House, Gelli.

The defendant denied 15 charges of distributing a sound recording stirring up racial hatred on or before May 17 2019 to on or before March 18 2021, and spoke only to confirm his name and reply “not guilty” as each charge was read out.

The charges allege that he distributed recordings with titles including Rivers Of Blood, Banned In The UK, The Leftist Supremacist Mindset, and The Usual Suspects.

Judge Paul Thomas told him: “Your trial will be on June 27 but there will be a further hearing either in March or April.”

The defendant, of no fixed address but originally from Pembrokeshire, was released on unconditional bail.

Harpreet Sandhu appeared for the prosecution during the hearing, while Laura Miller represented Allchurch.

At the previous hearing in Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court James Cable for the CPS said “The charges relate to the ownership and hosting of an online radio station, a website with podcasts which were available to the public without the need for any paywall or passwords.

“The station was called Radio Aryan until November 2019, then it changed its name.”

Mr Cable continued: “12 of the charges relate to material allegedly offensive to people from black or ethnic minority communities.

“The remaining three relate to podcasts said to be anti-Semitic.

Longshanks, dressed in a protective suit, dark glasses, and rubber gloves, openly admitted that he ran the station, which he called in court his “life’s work”.

Indeed, he told the judge the reason he changed his name from James Allchurch to Sven Longshanks was that it was his “life’s work that is on trial” and “that’s the name that my work is published under.”

Defence lawyer at that hearing, Kevin Smallcombe, said the issues in the case would be “academic research, freedom of speech and journalism”.

The CPS agreed in Haverfordwest that the case did not need to be dealt with in London in the terrorism list, but could be heard at a local Crown Court.

Entertainment

Dinosaurs set to take over Milford Waterfront

Published

3 minutes ago

May 5, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PREHISTORIC FUN COMES TO MILFORD HAVEN

DINOSAURS will be roaming Milford Waterfront later this month as Dinomania brings a day of prehistoric entertainment to the town.

The popular dinosaur attraction will take over the waterfront on Wednesday, May 27, with three interactive shows taking place throughout the afternoon.

Each show will last around 50 minutes and promises plenty of audience participation, prehistoric facts, and family-friendly fun.

Before the ticketed shows begin, visitors are being encouraged to keep an eye out around Milford Waterfront, where Dinomania’s dinosaurs will be out and about during a free walkabout performance between 10:30am and 11:30am.

The walkabout will give families the chance to see the dinosaurs up close and enjoy some entertainment around the waterfront before the main shows get underway.

Milford Waterfront said: “Dinomania will be taking over Milford Waterfront on Wednesday, May 27, with three exciting shows taking place throughout the afternoon.

“Each show lasts approximately 50 minutes and is packed with interactive moments and prehistoric fun.”

Tickets can be booked through the Milford Waterfront website.

Local Government

Call for councillor to fill standards committee vacancy

Published

6 minutes ago

May 5, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A TOWN or Community Councillor in Pembrokeshire is being sought to fill a vacancy on the committee responsible for promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct across the county.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Standards Committee currently has an opening for a representative from a Town or Community Council.

The committee plays a key role within the authority, including reviewing reports from the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales relating to alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct.

To be eligible, applicants must be a serving member of a Town or Community Council within the Pembrokeshire County Council area.

Anyone interested in applying is asked to contact Kate Matthews from the council’s Democratic Services team via email at [email protected]. An application form will then be provided.

Completed applications must be returned by Friday (June 12). Interviews are expected to take place later that month.

The time commitment for the role can vary, although the Standards Committee typically holds four scheduled meetings each year, along with additional meetings if required.

The successful applicant will serve for the remainder of the current council term, until the local elections in May 2027, with the possibility of a further five-year extension.

An appointment panel will conduct interviews and make recommendations to the full council based on set criteria.

Community

Fire service sets out new flood response plan for Mid and West Wales

Published

1 hour ago

May 5, 2026

Tom Sinclair

AROUND 31,000 properties across Mid and West Wales are at risk of flooding, according to figures released as part of a new fire service response strategy.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has completed a major engagement process to shape how it deals with future flooding incidents.

The work brought together operational crews, partner agencies and community representatives through a series of “Flooding Balanced Room” workshops.

The service said the aim was to make sure all voices were heard equally while developing practical options for prevention, response and recovery.

Nearly 24,000 properties in the service area are at risk from river flooding, while more than 7,000 are at risk from tidal flooding.

The service attends around 300 water rescue and weather-related flooding incidents each year.

Officials say flooding is becoming more frequent and more serious because of climate change, including heavier rainfall and prolonged weather events.

Recent data also shows a clear seasonal pattern, with the highest number of flooding incidents taking place between October and February.

The third quarter of 2025/26 was the busiest for flooding incidents since 2017/18, while February 2020 and November 2025 recorded the highest monthly levels of flooding activity.

The workshops produced four key priorities: prevention first, collaboration and partnership, enhanced specialist capability, and learning and continuous improvement.

Eleven initial options were narrowed down to five main areas.

These include better public education, community flood groups, improved flood messaging with partner agencies, more staff training, improved welfare and PPE for firefighters, better vehicles and technology, and stronger post-incident support for communities.

Proposals include using flood awareness in home fire safety checks, improving training scenarios, increasing the number of qualified water incident managers, expanding drone use, and using climate data to plan future fleet and equipment needs.

The options have now been assessed, with recommendations presented to the service’s Executive Leadership Team.

The plans will feed into the service’s future flooding strategy and its Community Risk Management Plan 2040.

Iwan Cray, Deputy Chief Fire Officer for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The Flooding Balanced Room process has highlighted the importance of collaboration.

“By listening to our staff, partners, and communities, we’ve created practical, forward-thinking solutions that will strengthen our ability to prevent and manage flooding in Mid and West Wales.

“Together, we can build a safer, more resilient Wales.”