A CARMARTHEN tattoo artist has said she stopped a tattoo session and asked a customer to leave after he allegedly disclosed his previous conviction for child sex offences.

Ffion Emma, who works from Mythical Ink in Queen Street, Carmarthen, posted online that the man had appeared to be “a normal human being” before opening up about his past during the appointment.

She said he told her he had been in prison and admitted he had been found with indecent images of children.

The tattoo artist said she immediately stopped the session and told him to leave the studio.

Convicted in 2019

The man was named online as Gavin Evans, formerly of Glanamman.

Court reports from 2019 show Evans, then a Tesco worker, was jailed after grooming a vulnerable young girl online and admitting child sex offences.

He appeared at Swansea Crown Court on March 29, 2019, where he was sentenced for offences including making indecent images of children.

The case involved a vulnerable young teenager who had been groomed online.

Studio stance

In her post, Ffion said Evans was “not welcome” at the studio and made clear that anyone convicted of similar offences would not be accepted as a customer.

The post attracted a large reaction online, with many people praising her decision to end the appointment.

Some comments went further, calling for violent or humiliating treatment of sex offenders, but The Herald is not repeating those remarks.

Businesses are generally entitled to refuse service, provided the refusal is not based on a protected characteristic under equality law.

A WEST WALES carers charity has marked Carers Week 2026 by calling for stronger, more inclusive communities for unpaid carers across Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

Carers Trust Crossroads West Wales said this year’s Carers Week theme, “building carer-friendly communities”, highlights the need for carers to be better understood, valued and supported.

The charity said small changes could make a major difference, including employers offering greater flexibility to staff with caring responsibilities, and GPs and pharmacies doing more to identify and support unpaid carers.

SUPPORTING LOCAL CARERS

During Carers Week, the organisation has delivered a range of activities across West Wales, including a guided walk at the National Botanic Garden of Wales, a beach barbecue, wellbeing walks at Dinefwr Castle, pamper days, Money MOTs and other support sessions.

The activities were aimed at giving unpaid carers a chance to take a break, meet others in similar circumstances, and find out more about the support available locally.

One local carer support service said: “We need carer-friendly communities to support carers, help them understand that they are cared for themselves, and ensure they feel part of the world around them.”

‘CARERS ARE NOT ALONE’

Andrew Fewtrell Smith, Carer Support Services Manager at Carers Trust Crossroads West Wales, said: “Unpaid carers are at the heart of our communities, often providing vital care and support without recognition or adequate support themselves.

“During Carers Week, we want to celebrate their contribution, raise awareness of the challenges they face, and remind carers that they are not alone.

“At Carers Trust Crossroads West Wales, we are committed to building more carer-friendly communities across West Wales, where carers of all ages feel valued, listened to and able to access the support, understanding and opportunities they need.”

Alexandra Roberts, Director of Network and Innovation at Carers Trust, said local organisations were making a real difference to carers’ lives every day.

She said: “From creating safe spaces to connect, to offering practical advice and essential support, the work of local carer organisations shows what’s possible when communities come together.

“Building carer-friendly communities starts with action and investment at a local level, and it’s inspiring to see our movement of local partners leading the way during this year’s Carers Week.”

Carers Trust Crossroads West Wales is part of a network of more than 130 local support centres for carers across England, Scotland and Wales.

More information is available at www.ctcww.org.uk/events/carers-week/ and www.carers.org/help-for-carers/carer-services-near-you.

A NEW report has called for every stage of Wales’ health and care system to be better connected in order to improve patient outcomes and reduce waiting times.

The Bevan Commission, Wales’ leading independent health and care think tank, has published Chain Reaction: Managing patient flows across health and care systems and services.

The paper examines the causes of poor patient flow and sets out ways to reduce pressure on services, including earlier intervention, better community support, improved use of digital tools and closer working between health, social care and local services.

It identifies seven key areas affecting how patients move through the system: people and communities, primary and community care, social care and care homes, urgent community support, 111 and transport, emergency and minor injury care, outpatient and diagnostic services, and hospital assessment, treatment and discharge.

The commission warns that simply moving pressure from one part of the system to another will not solve the problem, and says whole-system planning is needed.

Tools such as telehealth, digital medicines, virtual wards, social prescribing and quicker responses to falls are highlighted as ways to improve patient flow and help people manage their own health more effectively.

Bevan Commission Director Dr Helen Howson said: “Health and social care services are facing huge demands and we know that we are only going to face even bigger pressures. The population in Wales is living longer, but more unhealthily. We are seeing a doubling of the over-90s and an increase in dementia.

“We believe that health is a shared responsibility, extending beyond the NHS, to include local government, workplaces, people and communities. Preventing unnecessary admissions into the system and enabling people to better manage their own health and wellbeing will be critical to help reduce demand for clinical services.”

The report says prevention and early intervention will be essential if Wales is to reduce the number of people relying on formal care services.

It also highlights programmes such as Education Programmes for Patients Cymru, which helps people living with long-term conditions and their carers gain the skills and confidence to manage their own health.

Where formal care is needed, the commission says patients must be involved in designing services around their needs. It also calls for better real-time data and digital systems to improve communication between care teams.

Dr Howson added: “This paper highlights the interdependencies of all parts of the system and the impact of one upon the other. It reinforces the urgency for whole system planning and transformation, built around patient needs.

“By connecting every part of care, we can reduce inefficiencies, improve outcomes and better meet the evolving needs of people now and in the future.”