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Photographer snapped while claiming benefits

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chrisyoungMAGISTRATES imposed a 12 month community order with the requirement of completing 200 hours of unpaid work after a man from Milford Haven was sentenced for two charges of dishonestly claiming Jobseekers Allowance, and two charges of failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions of a change in his circumstances.

Chris Young, aged 34, of Harbour Way, Hakin pleaded guilty to the offences. Prosecutor, Ellie Morgan said: “Young was claiming Jobseekers Allowance when he was not entitled to it, and received a total overpayment of £6,857.36 between 2011 and 2012. He claimed the money stating he was actively seeking employment, although there was evidence that he was working as a selfemployed photographer and had not notified the authorities.

“Young said the money he had was nothing to do with photography and that some was from his grandad, and some was money he had won gambling. In interview, he admitted that cheques he had were given to him for photography and admitted dishonesty, and said the reason he did not declare it was because he was worried he would not have enough money from the photography to survive.” Defending solicitor, Alex Scott told the court: “The situation arose when he was loaned a camera while he was claiming benefits. He took it up as a hobby and found he had a flare for photography, which then turned into a small business. He didn’t make a lot of money but admits he should have notified the authorities. It is likely he would have been eligible for working tax credits, therefore the overpayment total would be less.”

Magistrates imposed a 12 month community order with a requirement of 200 hours unpaid work and ordered him to pay £85 costs and £60 victim surcharge. He was not required to pay any compensation as no claim was made for it.

 

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Community

PCSO clocks in after villagers raise speeding fears

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HERBRANDSTON residents flagged fast-moving traffic as a key concern, prompting police to carry out speed checks in the village.

Concern over speeding in Herbrandston has prompted a local police response, with PCSO Adam out in the village carrying out speed checks after residents raised the issue through DPP Connect.

Milford Haven and Neyland Police said the concerns emerged after officers signed local people up to the messaging service, which allows residents to share feedback and receive updates from police.

Many of those who responded said speeding through the village was one of their main worries.

In response, PCSO Adam was deployed to monitor traffic and check vehicle speeds.

The move is likely to be welcomed by residents who have grown tired of motorists treating the village like a racetrack.

 

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Community

Walk the Path for Wellbeing to span three counties in 2026

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THE PEMBROKESHIRE COAST NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY is inviting communities, workplaces, families and friends to take part in the 2026 Walk the Path for Wellbeing challenge, with this year’s event expanding across three counties for the first time.

Taking place on Sunday, May 10 and Monday, May 11, the challenge will bring people together to celebrate the spectacular West Wales coastline through walking and other forms of active travel, while highlighting the strong links between nature, movement and wellbeing. A reserve weekend of May 17 and 18 has also been set aside in the event of severe weather.

Building on feedback from last year, the event will now take place over two days rather than one, giving more people the opportunity to get involved and creating a longer window for celebration, storytelling and community spirit.

While last year’s challenge focused on the 186-mile Pembrokeshire Coast, this year’s event will also include sections of Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, bringing even more communities into the shared coastal celebration.

The two-day event will feature self-led sections for group entry. With the focus firmly on enjoyment, there is no pressure to complete every stage, and participants are encouraged to do only as much as they feel comfortable with. Together, those individual efforts will contribute to a shared goal of covering the full 313 miles of coastline.

Angela Robinson, Health and Wellbeing Officer at the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, said: “The coast has an extraordinary ability to lift people, connect communities and create lasting memories. By extending the event across two days and into neighbouring counties, we’re opening the door to even more people to celebrate that connection together and share their experiences on social media.”

 

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Health

Nursing graduate jobs crisis warning as NHS pressures deepen

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THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF NURSING WALES has warned of a growing jobs crisis for newly qualified nurses, saying a shortage of Band 5 posts could leave up to half of this year’s nursing graduates without work when recruitment opens.

The union said the situation was particularly alarming given the severe pressures already facing NHS Wales, with staff continuing to report overcrowded wards, unsafe conditions and unmanageable workloads across multiple health boards.

RCN Wales said the lack of available jobs for newly trained nurses pointed to a serious failure in workforce planning. It warned that losing new entrants to the profession would place even more strain on already overstretched services and could further affect patient care.

The organisation said the situation also undermined the Welsh Government’s and NHS Wales’ duty to improve the quality and safety of care.

RCN Wales is calling on the Welsh Government to provide urgent clarity on the scale of the shortfall, set out credible long-term workforce planning, and introduce immediate system-wide measures to recruit, retain and deploy the nursing workforce Wales needs.

The union said it had received assurances that students would not be penalised if posts were unavailable. That includes being released from any obligation to work in Wales and not being required to repay tuition fee support where workforce shortages prevent them from securing employment.

Professor Sandy Harding, Associate Director of Nursing at RCN Wales, said: “The situation facing newly registered nurses is deeply concerning and exposes serious failures in workforce planning.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that this situation is being driven by financial constraints, including the freezing of vacant posts within local health boards. Our NHS is under intense pressure, yet hundreds of newly qualified nurses may have no posts to enter. This is simply unacceptable.

“These students stepped forward for Wales, trained through immense challenges, and now face uncertainty at the very moment the system needs them most. They deserve far better.

“Every newly qualified nurse will be vital to meeting Wales’s care needs. The RCN will continue to demand transparency, accountability and long-term planning from the system. We will not stop speaking up for students, for our safety-critical nursing workforce, and for the people who rely on safe, high-quality care.”

 

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