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Lewis Haines, 31, jailed for life with minimum of 23 years for murder of Lily Sullivan, 18

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Haines has been jailed for a minimum of 23 years and four months. The sentence has just been handed down in Swansea Crown Court in the last few moments.

Just before the sentence was handed down, the court heard a victim impact statement from Lily Sullivan’s mother Anna.

Lily was her only child.

Admitted murder: Lewis Haines

Mrs Sullivan said: “I suffered 14 miscarriages prior to Lily being born.

“I had resigned myself to not having any children so when Lily was born it felt amazing.

“She gave true purpose to my life, she was my little bit of normal.

“Everything made sense when she arrived.

“We were so, so close.

“She was a beautiful girl inside and out. She didn’t see that and lacked self-confidence.

“She always saw the good in people. She was not an angry person or confrontational.

“Lily was always good in a crisis.

Tragic: Lily Sullivan

“She was bright, funny and a talented artist. She was a typical teenage girl who loved clothes and makeup and mostly music. She adored house music.

“She had just started going out with friends on a regular basis. The pain of Lily being taken from her family is unbearable. I am suffering many physical symptoms which are debilitating. I suffer regularly from panic attacks. When they come I cannot speak or function.

“I constantly feel numb and in a daze. The feelings I have are so difficult to describe. I am broken inside. It’s almost like I don’t know why I was put on this earth in the first place.

“I used to be afraid of dying because I didn’t want to leave Lily, but I am waiting for my time now. I can’t wait to be with her again. Until this happens it feels like my life is on pause. I am struggling to find a reason to be here.

“I wake up in the night picturing Lily in the water and wondering what was happening, whether she was scared. I picture the male responsible for Lily’s death, when I saw him in front of the garage and could have confronted him. He looked me straight in the eye.

“I question what happened when her phone went dead when I was speaking to her and what I could have done differently so she could still be alive. It’s like being tortured, thinking that one decision could have changed the whole night.

“Overwhelmingly I feel it’s all so senseless. It didn’t need to happen. What I can’t come to terms with is that the man who killed Lily knew I was waiting for her and passed me by the garage.

“He chose not to help and he did nothing, that is something which I can never forgive.”

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Richard Yelland said: “Haines passed numerous opportunities to seek help for Lily when fleeing the scene of his crime.

“His selfish and cruel actions have changed the lives of all those who knew and loved Lily and the close-knit community of Pembroke.”

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

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THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

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Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

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PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

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Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

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ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.

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