News

A “spiteful” burglar who targeted the home of a bride knowing she would be at her wedding has been jailed.

Published

13 years ago

October 22, 2013

Ceri Davies, 26, broke into Annwen Bell’s home as she was marrying her long term partner Jonathan.
Davies “trashed” the house after learning that his mother, Jill, had not been invited to the wedding.
Annwen Bell’s father had left home two years earlier and formed a relationship with Davies’ mother.
As Annwen and Jonathan planned their wedding it was decided not to invite Jill Davies “to keep the peace”.
They invited her father but Annwen refused to allow him to give her away.
Janet Gedrych, prosecuting, told Swansea crown court how Davies broke into the couple’s home at Maes Gwyn, Llanfair Clydogau, west Wales, on the afternoon of May 25 knowing that the couple were due to be married at 3pm and to then enjoy a reception in the seaside village of Aberaeron 20 miles away.
“It was motivated by malice,” she added. “It was targeted to that house due to the relationships between the parties
“Annwen had taken her mother’s side and there was ill feeling between the two sides.”
Davies caused Ł5,500 worth of damage, slashing furniture with a knife, leaving on water taps in a bathroom and the kitchen to cause flooding and using a hammer to leave imprints on computers, televisions and kitchen work surfaces.
He also stole Ł295 in cash, a 20 euro note and even the cards of congratulations for the marriage.
But, said Miss Gedrych, two men carrying out an archaeology study nearby heard the sound of breaking glass and challenged Davies.
They saw him leaving the property with a carrier bag and followed him.
They called the police who continued the chase until Davies threw away the bag and ran across a field.
But he was caught by police and arrested.
Miss Gedrych said police had to approach the couple at their reception that evening and explain that their home had been burgled and trashed.
In a victim impact statement, Jonathan Bell said, “Annwen invited her father to the wedding but she was not willing for him to give her away.
“It was such a special day and we cannot remember that day as we should.
“Gifts from her grandparents were broken. It does not feel like a home anymore.”
Jill Davies was also arrested after police became aware that her car had been in the area at the time. But she said she had given her son a lift so he could go for a walk and had no idea a burglary would be carried out. She was not charged with any offence.
Davies, of Room 2, 4 Albert Place, Aberystwyth, admitted burglary and causing criminal damage. He was jailed for three years and four months.
Davies’ barrister, Victoria Thomas, said Davies was addicted to cannabis at the time.
“That does not take away the pain that was caused to the couple. It was their wedding day.
“His mother accepts that what he did was terrible. She is ashamed at what he has done.
“He ruined their wedding day,” added Miss Thomas.
She said he turned on water taps in the hope of washing away any DNA evidence.
Judge Paul Thomas told Davies, “Any house burglary is taken very seriously by the courts. It usually causes psychological and emotional harm.
“In any way this was a particularly spiteful burglary. It was a revenge attack.”
Davies, he added, had set out to cause as much harm as he could to a woman on the most important day of her life.
“It was a simple dispute. Because of the wedding your mother had not been invited. It happens at weddings week in, week out.
“But you decided not only to burgle their home but to wreck it. You vindictively trashed their home.
“You made as sure as you could that they would come back and they would face a scene of heartbreaking devastation.”
Judge Thomas said Davies had a record for arson and criminal damage and “seemed to get a kick” out of destroying other people’s property and the pain it caused them.

Charity

Ashmole & Co to support Alzheimer’s Society with year of fundraising

Published

1 hour ago

May 17, 2026

Tom Sinclair

WEST Wales accountancy firm Ashmole & Co has chosen Alzheimer’s Society as its charity of the year.

The firm, which has thirteen offices across west, mid and south Wales, has raised more than £60,000 for good causes in recent years, including Wales Air Ambulance, Cardiac Risk in the Young, Tenovus Cancer Care and the DPJ Foundation.

Staff will now spend the next 12 months raising money for Alzheimer’s Society through collections, events, dress-down Fridays, cake bakes, running challenges and a sponsored walk later in the year.

The charity supports people affected by dementia, campaigns for better services and funds research into the condition.

Ashmole & Co said staff were keen to support a cause which affects thousands of families across Wales.

Laura Craddock, Ashmole & Co Partner in the Ammanford office, said: “Many of our staff are already aware of the great work done by Alzheimer’s Society and were keen to help raise funds for this worthwhile charity over the next 12 months.

“We hope our clients and friends will help us raise as much money as possible through collections and events for this extremely worthy cause.”

Alzheimer’s Society says around one million people in the UK are currently living with dementia, with that figure expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040.

In Wales, around 51,000 people are living with dementia, with many still undiagnosed.

The charity says dementia is the UK’s biggest killer and costs the UK economy an estimated £42 billion a year, a figure expected to rise sharply in the coming years.

Dan Gee, Regional Fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Society, said: “We are very grateful to Ashmole & Co for choosing to help raise funds for Alzheimer’s Society over the next 12 months.

“There are currently 51,000 people living with dementia in Wales, half of those without a diagnosis. It is the UK’s biggest killer; it affects us all, and it devastates lives.

“Only together can we beat dementia – by giving vital support to those who need it, funding groundbreaking research, and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be.

“It will take a society to beat dementia, and we thank you for your support.”

Ashmole & Co Chartered and Certified Accountants was established in 1897 and is one of the largest accountancy and auditing practices in Wales, with offices including Swansea, Carmarthen, Haverfordwest and Tenby.

Donations to support the firm’s fundraising can be made through its JustGiving page or directly at any Ashmole & Co office.

Photo caption: Ashmole & Co partners with Dan Gee, Alzheimer’s Society Regional Fundraiser. Pictured from left are Will Hughes and Ian Badham, Partners in the Haverfordwest and Tenby offices; Laura Craddock, Partner in the Ammanford office; Dan Gee from Alzheimer’s Society; Chris Daultrey, Partner in the Swansea office; Ceri Llwyd, Partner in the Llandeilo and Llandovery offices; and Sharon George, Partner in the Carmarthen office.

Community

Wales & West Utilities donates £1,000 to support Narberth community pool

Published

1 hour ago

May 17, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Donation will help charity fund energy-saving improvements and secure pool’s future

A COMMUNITY-RUN swimming pool in Pembrokeshire has received a £1,000 donation to support major sustainability improvements.

Swim Narberth, the charity which runs Narberth Swimming Pool, has been given the funding by Wales & West Utilities, the gas emergency and pipeline service.

The money will go towards the charity’s energy-efficiency project, which aims to cut energy use, reduce carbon emissions and make the facility more resilient for the future.

The pool was saved from permanent closure in 2014 following a community campaign. It is now used by more than 500 children and 1,000 adults every week.

Planned improvements include replacing the ageing roof, installing a modern high-efficiency air-handling system and upgrading the pool’s existing solar panels. The upgrades are expected to reduce energy use by more than 30 per cent.

Chris Walters, chairman of Swim Narberth, said: “As a small rural charity, support like this plays a vital role in helping us reach our £40,000 community match-funding target, which will unlock significant investment from the Welsh Government’s Community Facilities Programme.

“We are so grateful for Wales & West Utilities’ support and the funding will go towards our extensive improvements at the pool, including roof replacement works and major plant efficiency upgrades to help secure the pool’s long-term future.”

Narberth Swimming Pool provides learn-to-swim programmes, water safety education, inclusive and disability-friendly sessions, and health and wellbeing activities for people of all ages.

It is also the only accessible swimming facility within a 10-mile radius, serving families, schools and community groups across the surrounding rural area.

Sophie Shorney, engagement and social impact manager at Wales & West Utilities, said: “We are proud to support the communities in which we work and are pleased to lend a helping hand to an organisation that provides such an important service for the local community.

“We are pleased that this money will be put to good use and drive improvements that will help safeguard the future of the pool, while reducing running costs and environmental impact.”

Wales & West Utilities delivers energy to more than 7.5 million people across Wales and the south west of England through a network of more than 35,000 kilometres of underground pipes.

Health

Occupational therapists urge Welsh Government to act before NHS crisis deepens

Published

3 hours ago

May 17, 2026

Tom Sinclair

More than 300 professionals sign open letter calling for prevention-focused care and urgent reform

OCCUPATIONAL therapists across Wales are urging the new Welsh Government to act before pressure on the NHS and social care system deepens further.

More than 300 members of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists in Wales have signed an open letter calling for a major shift towards prevention, early intervention and care closer to home.

They say too much support is currently arriving only after people have reached crisis point.

The therapists argue that earlier help in the community could reduce hospital admissions, ease pressure on overstretched services and improve lives across Wales.

Occupational therapists work across the health and care system, supporting premature babies and families in neonatal care, helping children take part in school, enabling adults to stay in or return to work, and helping older people live safely in their own homes.

The Royal College says the profession is often overlooked, despite playing a vital role in keeping people independent and reducing demand on hospitals.

Its members are calling for five key changes, including embedding occupational therapists in every community healthcare cluster, improving workforce planning, putting prevention at the heart of health policy, ending inconsistencies in provision, and opening leadership roles to occupational therapists.

Paul Smith, RCOT Policy and Public Affairs Lead for Wales, said: “Wales can’t afford to keep waiting for a crisis to happen.

“Occupational therapists are already preventing hospital admissions, easing pressure on stretched services and supporting people to do the occupations they want and need to do.

“But they need to be positioned to provide the right support at the right time to make maximum impact.”

The call comes amid continued concern over waiting times, delayed discharges and pressure on hospitals, including in rural parts of Wales where patients often face long journeys for care.

RCOT says ministers, health boards, councils and sector leaders must now work with the profession to ensure people receive the right support earlier, closer to home, and before problems spiral into crisis.