News

Fishguard man acquitted of child sex offences after Crown Court retrial

Published

2 years ago

May 19, 2023

FOLLOWING a retrial held at Swansea Crown Court, Brian Buckle, a 51-year-old resident of Fishguard, was acquitted of a series of historical child sex offences on Friday (May 19) .

The 12 charges against him included allegations of indecent assault, indecency with a child, and attempted rape, all of which were said to have occurred between March 31, 1993, and April 1, 1996.

It is important to note that each of these allegations pertained to the same complainant.

The previous conviction of Buckle, who was 45 at the time, took place in 2017 when he was sentenced to a combined 33 years in prison.

The sentence stipulated that he would serve this period over 15 years.

However, a retrial was ordered by the Court of Appeal last year, leading to the recent proceedings at Swansea Crown Court.

After trial lasting two weeks, during which the court heard extensive arguments from both the prosecution and the defence, the 11-member jury (One had left before the end of the trial because of a pre-booked holiday which had not been mentioned during jury selection) unanimously returned a not guilty verdict on each of the counts.

Deliberations lasted just over four hours.

The prosecution contended that Buckle had sexually abused the complainant, who was between eight and ten years old at the time of the alleged offenses.

They presented forensic evidence linking Buckle to the complainant through traces of his semen found on her childhood diary.

In his defence, Buckle vehemently denied all charges, asserting that he was being framed.

Cleared: Brian Buckle said he was framed

He maintained his innocence throughout the trial, telling the jury, “I never sexually abused, or physically or mentally abused, the complainant.”

Buckle’s barrister argued that his client had never seen the diary, which was referred to as “the invisible diary,” until the 2017 trial.

The defence further claimed that Buckle’s DNA must have been planted on it, potentially originating from a used condom.

Dr. Candice Bridge, a forensic chemist, testified that traces of lubricant used in condoms were present in the semen found.

During the trial, the complainant was questioned as to why she had never reported the allegations to the police.

She explained that she had had negative experiences with the police throughout her life.

In response, the defence barrister argued, “It’s because the defendant did not do these things.”

The retrial shed new light on a case that had been ongoing since 2015 when the charges were initially brought to the attention of the police by the complainant’s father during an unrelated interview.

As the retrial concluded with a not guilty verdict, Brian Buckle walked free from the courtroom, finally proving his innocence in the face of the historical child sex offence charges that had haunted him for years.

It now remains to be seen if the police will investigate the allegation made by Buckle that he was “framed” and that others had seemingly deliberately sought to pervert the course of justice in order to send an innocent main to jail.

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

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)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

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)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

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.