News

West Wales activists participate in demo during COP26 Climate Conference

Published

4 years ago

November 13, 2021

CLIMATE activists from the Cardigan and Pembrokeshire area have been rounding up world leaders at COP26 Climate Conference – and taking them in chains to the police cells! To be a bit more precise, the activists WERE the world leaders in chains, in some street theatre in Glasgow.

Members of Cardigan and Pembrokeshire Extinction Rebellion (XR) groups were wearing huge masks which were caricatures of some of the planet’s most criminal climate offenders.

The masks, moulded in latex, were made by Bim Mason. Bim is a lecturer, performer, author and one of the UK’s leading mask-makers. He co-founded Circomedia, the circus theatre school in Bristol in 1994 and moved to Angle, in Pembrokeshire, just before the first lockdown. Since then he has been involved with XR groups in Cardigan, Fishguard and Carmarthen.

Adam Price speaks with activist Jane Mansfield at the demo outside JP Morgan Bank (Image Herald)

Bim explains, “The aim of this piece was to name and shame those leaders and influencers who have got us into this climate catastrophe, by denying the science, delaying action or double-dealing, mainly in order to keep themselves in power. In Glasgow, the crowds booed the leaders and cheered at the fantasy of them being arrested.”

Another Cardigan XR member, Jane Mansfield, was involved in protesting outside JP Morgan Bank – a major funder of fossil fuels which are the main cause of the climate change crisis. She has also been able to meet with people from all over the world, learning about how climate change is already causing terrible suffering in so many communities in the Global South.

“We need to push our governments to provide these most vulnerable developing countries with the funding which they promised but have not delivered,” she said. “This is basic climate justice and it is essential to help the countries which are the least responsible for climate change but are suffering the most from its effects. The funding is needed to enable them to cope with climate damage, and to develop using renewable energy rather than fossil fuels. This has been agreed at previous COPs but has not been realised.”

Jane also managed to speak to Adam Price MS, the leader of Plaid Cymru, and to discuss the urgency of the situation and the ways in which Wales can play its part. He put the situation starkly: “We’re talking about an existential issue, like the future of the planet. And for me, as a new parent of two young children, then every day as a politician I’m thinking constantly about what I can do to bequeath to them a liveable planet. It doesn’t get bigger than that.

Crime

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

Published

8 hours 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.

News

Man arrested after suspected drugs-related death in Haverfordwest

Published

8 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Police say death not suspicious as 46-year-old arrested over alleged Class A drug supply

A MAN has died following a medical emergency at a property in Haverfordwest, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called at 3:18pm on Wednesday (March 18) after a report of a medical incident.

A man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.

However, police confirmed that a man, aged 46, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

He has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

No further details about the deceased have been formally released.

Crime

Illegal dog breeders ordered to pay over £129,000 after council probe

Published

9 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOUR people from Mynyddygarreg, Kidwelly, have been ordered to pay more than £129,000 following a successful prosecution for illegal dog breeding.

At Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Mar 10), before His Honour Judge Thomas KC, Stacey May June Edwards, Peter John Edwards, Sian Eleri Thomas and David Malcolm James Thomas, all of Sea Breeze, Mynyddygarreg, pleaded guilty to offences under the Breeding of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2014.

The court imposed confiscation orders totalling £129,873.41 under the Proceeds of Crime Act across the four defendants. They were also ordered to pay £8,000 in costs, while each defendant received a £2,000 fine.

The investigation began in April 2021 after Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Health team received an enquiry from Peter Edwards about obtaining a dog breeding licence. Although licensing guidance was provided and a partial application was submitted in February 2022, this was later withdrawn.

In March 2024, the council received a complaint that puppies were being advertised for sale without the required licence. Officers subsequently contacted online advertising platforms and issued data requests to assess the scale of activity.

Analysis of records from Pets4Homes, Freeads and Gumtree revealed multiple litters being advertised by members of the same household.

Correspondence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act confirmed that up to 25 dogs were kept at the property, including between 16 and 19 breeding females.

While some defendants claimed joint ownership of the dogs, others attempted to minimise their involvement.

The Herald understands that numerous puppy advertisements were posted between July 2020 and April 2025, demonstrating a sustained pattern of unlicensed breeding.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “This case demonstrates the council’s firm stance against unlicensed and illegal dog breeding.

“These regulations are in place to protect animal welfare and ensure that breeding activities are subject to proper oversight. The scale of activity uncovered at this property was entirely unacceptable, and we welcome the court’s decision to issue significant confiscation orders under POCA.”

He added: “We urge anyone with concerns about illegal dog breeding to report it. Our Animal Health officers will continue to investigate thoroughly and take action against those who disregard the law.”

Residents are reminded that anyone breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect both animal welfare and consumers.