Pupil remanded into youth detention as attempted murder case sent to Crown Court

A TEENAGER has been charged with attempted murder following an alleged knife attack on a teacher at Milford Haven Comprehensive School.

The 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons because of his age, appeared before magistrates at the weekend after the incident at the Pembrokeshire secondary school on Thursday afternoon (Feb 5).

He faces charges of attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and possession of a bladed article on education premises.

Magistrates heard the alleged attack took place shortly after 3:00pm while the teacher was working with the pupil in a classroom. It is claimed the boy used a kitchen knife during the incident.

The female teacher suffered injuries to her head, finger and back and was taken to hospital for treatment.

The defendant spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth during the short hearing. Members of his family were present in court.

The case was deemed too serious to be dealt with at magistrates’ level and has been sent to Swansea Crown Court.

He was remanded into youth detention accommodation.

The teenager is due to appear before the Crown Court on Monday, March 9.

Police and education officials have not released further details at this stage

STUDENTS training for careers at sea in Pembrokeshire are set to benefit from enhanced practical learning after fresh backing from the Port of Milford Haven.

Learners on the Marine Engineering Pre-Cadetship at Pembrokeshire College will now receive additional hands-on maritime training, funded by the Port, alongside their classroom studies.

Launched in 2023, the enhanced programme is aimed at young people hoping to enter the maritime, deck and engineering sectors. It combines technical teaching with industry-focused skills to help students prepare for work at sea.

For the past three years, the Port has covered the cost of uniforms to encourage professionalism and team spirit among cadets. This year, its support has been widened to include a series of accredited practical courses delivered through the Royal Yachting Association.

These include radar operations, first aid training for mariners, navigation and seamanship, and professional practices and responsibilities — qualifications designed to give students recognised safety and operational skills before entering the industry.

Brian Stewart, Assistant Harbourmaster at the Port of Milford Haven, said the training provides valuable real-world preparation.

He said: “The Pre-Cadetship training at Pembrokeshire College gives students a real insight into life in the maritime, deck and engineering sectors, while building key qualities such as discipline and teamwork. It’s great to see these enhanced practical opportunities being offered this year, which will provide students with invaluable experience and a clearer pathway into our diverse industry.”

Tim Berry, maritime lecturer in the college’s Faculty of Engineering and Computing, said the extra funding would make a “tangible difference” to learners.

He added: “These RYA-accredited practical courses allow the Pre-Cadets to translate classroom theory into real maritime skills, building their confidence and readiness for a career at sea. We’re incredibly proud of the opportunities this partnership continues to create for the next generation of marine engineers.”

The Port, one of the county’s largest employers, has increasingly worked with local education providers to encourage young people into maritime and energy-related careers, helping retain skills and opportunities within Pembrokeshire.

More information about the Marine Engineering Pre-Cadetship is available at pembrokeshire.ac.uk.

Cover photo:

Pre-Cadetship students with lecturer Tim Berry and Port of Milford Haven representatives Brian Stewart and Emily Jones (Pic supplied).

by Tom Sinclair, Editor
IN POLITICS, mistakes rarely bring down a prime minister. Handling does.

In the space of twenty-four hours Sir Keir Starmer has lost both his chief of staff and his director of communications. Two of the most senior figures in Downing Street have walked away at the very moment the government most needed steadiness and control.

This is not a policy crisis. It is a handling crisis, and handling, fair or not, often matters more than reality.

The original issue, the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador despite his long-documented association with Jeffrey Epstein, should have been a short-lived Westminster row. A judgement call that some supported for his experience and others opposed on reputational grounds. The sort of story that fills a day’s headlines and then fades.

Instead it has lingered and grown, turning a questionable decision into a rolling argument about judgement at the top of government.

The reason is simple. The Prime Minister did not take ownership quickly enough.

This could have been finished in half a minute. Step outside Number 10, face the cameras, and say clearly that the decision was his, that on reflection it was the wrong call, and that the government was moving on.

Voters tend to forgive honesty. They do not forgive hesitation.

Instead there was silence, followed by briefings and then resignations from close aides apparently taking responsibility. That convinces no one. Everyone understands that decisions of this scale come from the Prime Minister. Watching staff fall on their swords simply makes a leader look weak and defensive.

That is how a small political problem becomes a story about loss of control.

The irony is that Starmer is probably doing exactly what many people said they wanted after years of chaos. He governs cautiously. He focuses on the books. He tries to fix systems rather than chase headlines. It is careful, technocratic politics.

But careful management is almost invisible.

The public does not see departmental reforms or balanced spreadsheets. They see confidence, clarity and momentum. When they instead see confusion and senior figures quitting, they conclude that something is going wrong, whether it is or not.

Meanwhile Nigel Farage and Reform UK offer little detail but communicate relentlessly. Their message is simple and easy to repeat. The country is broken and they will fix it. That alone is enough to dominate the conversation, even without a fully worked-out plan.

It is not competence that cuts through. It is clarity.

That is where the real danger lies for Starmer.

Prime ministers are rarely removed because of one bad decision. They fall when their own MPs start to doubt that they can win the next election. Once that doubt takes hold, confidence drains quickly. Backbenchers get nervous. Donors start asking questions. Quiet conversations begin about alternatives.

Two senior resignations in a day do not just look messy. They suggest that the centre is not holding. If upcoming local elections or by-elections go badly, that doubt will harden.

If Labour MPs begin to believe that Starmer cannot sell a story to the country, that perception alone could end his premiership, regardless of how responsibly he is governing.

The harsh truth is that you can quietly repair a nation and still lose office if nobody notices.

In modern politics, communication is not decoration. It is survival. Right now, that is exactly what Downing Street appears to have lost.