News

Suspended sentence after pub altercation leaves victim with fractured skull

Published

1 year ago

August 8, 2023

A MAN underwent a distressing ordeal on the 8th of September, 2021, when an ostensibly routine evening at a local pub took a violent turn, resulting in a fractured skull. Wesley Griffiths, a member of staff at the Bush Inn in Tenby, was left injured and unconscious after being punched by his inebriated acquaintance, Craig Jones.

The Magistrates’ Court heard this week that Mr. Griffiths was relishing a day off from his duties, enjoying a leisurely evening at the very establishment he was employed. The tranquility of the evening was shattered around 11 pm, as the pub prepared to shutter its doors for the night. A task was delegated to Mr. Griffiths to prevent any latecomers from entering, a responsibility he carried out during his smoke break outside.

Among the hopeful patrons seeking entry was Craig Jones, a friend who had partaken in the evening’s libations. Mr. Griffiths, executing his duty, politely denied Jones’ entry, a decision met with hostility. Witnesses recounted that Jones, clearly under the influence, engaged in a verbal exchange with Griffiths, accusing him of being overly earnest in his role.

In an alarming escalation, Jones brazenly snatched Mr. Griffiths’ glasses before resorting to physical violence. Onlookers noted that Jones appeared to be deliberating his actions for a brief interval before delivering a powerful punch. The impact left Mr. Griffiths incapacitated and unconscious, causing him to collapse and sustain a severe head injury upon impact with the unyielding floor.

Jones promptly fled the scene, leaving Mr. Griffiths vulnerable and in a distressed state. Upon regaining consciousness, Mr. Griffiths initially provided the authorities with misleading information, attributing the incident to an accidental fall. However, the truth emerged, eventually leading to Jones’ confession to the authorities.

In his statement, Jones attempted to justify the assault as an act of self-defense, asserting that Mr. Griffiths had displayed physical aggression and employed offensive language. This narrative, however, was debunked in court, as evidence indicated that Mr. Griffiths was the victim of an unprovoked and brutal attack.

Medical evaluations revealed the gravity of Mr. Griffiths’ injuries. Despite initially declining medical attention, his condition worsened, necessitating his admission to a hospital on the 9th of September. Subsequent examinations, including a CT scan, unveiled two brain bleeds and a depressed skull fracture. The extent of his injuries underscored the perilous nature of the incident.

In a surprising turn of events, Mr. Griffiths expressed a compassionate stance towards his assailant. This sentiment was conveyed in an updated victim personal statement, wherein he expressed his reluctance to see Jones incarcerated for his actions.

During the legal proceedings, Jones’ defence solicitor, Jon Tarrant, shed light on his client’s history of substance abuse, specifically his excessive alcohol consumption and cocaine use. Tarrant argued that the delay in the legal proceedings had allowed Jones to demonstrate his commitment to rehabilitation, evident in his compliance with a previous community order.

Presiding over the case, Recorder David Harris delivered a stern message to Jones, emphasising the severity of his actions and the life-threatening consequences that followed. The judge also acknowledged Jones’ initial attempt to downplay the incident by claiming self-defense.

In the culmination of the legal process, Jones received a suspended sentence of 10 months, offering him an opportunity for redemption on the condition that he adheres to strict requirements. These mandates include completing 200 hours of unpaid work, participating in a 10-day rehabilitation programme, and adhering to a 120-day alcohol abstinence monitoring obligation.

Crime

Pembroke Dock woman in court for failing to remove rubbish from property

Published

8 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Court Reporter

A PEMBROKE DOCK resident is due to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court later today (Nov 25) for multiple alleged breaches of a community protection notice.

Sheena Deacon, of 13 Wavell Crescent, Pembroke Dock, faces charges under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which carries a maximum penalty of a Level 4 fine.

The charges stem from allegations that Deacon failed to remove accumulated household waste from her property on several occasions. According to court documents, the breaches occurred on September 19, September 26, October 2, October 9, and October 17 this year.

The charges indicate that Deacon, despite being issued with a community protection notice, did not comply with the requirements to clear and appropriately dispose of refuse and household waste from her address.

The Herald will bring updates on the case as it progresses.

News

Welsh Conservatives urge Labour to scrap ‘family farm tax’

Published

8 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have announced plans to bring forward a Senedd debate next week (Nov 27) calling on the UK Labour Government to abandon its proposed “family farm tax.”

The tax, introduced by the UK Labour Government, is being criticised as a move that will harm Welsh farming, threaten food security, and increase food prices. Alongside the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme and perceived “anti-farming agenda,” critics argue this new tax amounts to a coordinated effort to undermine the future of agriculture in Wales.

Shadow Minister warns of consequences
Ahead of the debate, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, James Evans MS, condemned the proposal, stating:
“Labour’s family farm tax will put family farms out of business, threaten our food security, and lead to food prices rising. Only the Welsh Conservatives will stand up for our farmers, and that’s why we’re bringing forward a Senedd motion calling on Labour to reverse this decision. No farmers, no food.”

NFU Cymru expresses alarm
NFU Cymru President, Aled Jones, echoed these concerns, highlighting the widespread opposition from the farming community. Speaking about the impact of the tax on Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief, Jones said:
“Earlier this week, hundreds of farmers from across Wales journeyed to London to meet with their MPs and register their deeply held concerns about these misguided and ill-thought-out reforms.

“The proposals unveiled by the Treasury last month to introduce a tax on the passing on of our family farms to the next generation are a massive added burden. They will leave many farmers without the means, confidence, or incentive to invest in the future of their business.

“NFU Cymru reiterates its call for the UK Government to halt these changes.”

The motion to be debated
The motion, set to be debated in the Senedd, reads:
“To propose that the Senedd:
Calls on the UK Labour Government to reverse its decision to impose a family farm tax on agricultural businesses.”

This debate is expected to attract significant attention, with Welsh farmers and rural communities keenly watching for the outcome.

Community

Internet outage for two villages after exchange box destroyed

Published

10 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Tom Sinclair

RESIDENTS of Clunderwen and Llandissilio have been left without internet access following the destruction of an Openreach exchange box just outside Llandissilio village.

The incident occurred yesterday (Nov 23) when the box was reportedly demolished by a vehicle. The damage has resulted in a complete loss of internet services for the two villages, with repairs expected to take at least a couple of days.

Local residents have expressed frustration over the disruption, as the outage affects home businesses, remote workers, and households relying on internet connectivity for day-to-day tasks.

Openreach engineers have cordoned off the site, and work is ongoing to assess the extent of the damage. A spokesperson for Openreach has been contacted for comment but had not responded by the time of publication.

The vehicle involved in the incident has not yet been identified. Anyone with information about the collision is urged to contact the local police.

With repair timelines unclear, affected residents have called for increased communication from service providers to manage expectations during the outage.

“Bringing the community back online is a priority,” a local resident said. “We’re hoping Openreach can resolve the issue quickly and ensure it doesn’t happen again in future.”