News

Matalan targeted by angry protesters

Published

11 years ago

September 9, 2014

AS HAVERFORDWEST’S Matalan put the finishing touches to its store, hundreds of campaigners gathered at other Matalan stores across Wales in protest.

More than 900 people in Pembrokeshire mounted a 38 Degrees campaign this week, asking Matalan to donate to the official compensation fund for the victims of the Rana Plaza factory disaster, a factory that made some of Matalan’s clothes. The collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Dhaka, Bangladesh in April 2013 saw 1,129 people killed and 2,515 people injured. The building housed garment factories making clothes for cut-price retailers in the west, including Matalan. Matalan agreed to donate a secret sum of money to the official fund a day before the deadline last Thursday, after receiving thousands of calls, tweets and emails from Pembrokeshire citizens. But local campaigners demanded that the chain reveal exactly how much it paid in.

The campaign was co-ordinated by 38 Degrees, and its executive director, David Babbs, made this comment: “This week, thousands of people in Wales tweeted, called and emailed Matalan’s bosses to tell them to do the right thing by the people who died in the same factory that made its clothes. “It’s good news that Matalan has listened to the public and agreed to pay into the official compensation fund. But we’re all still waiting to see whether Matalan has paid up a decent amount of money to help the survivors of this tragedy to rebuild their lives. “Until Matalan’s customers know how much it’s contributed, they’ll be wondering why Matalan wants to keep it a secret.” With 2.8 million members, 38 Degrees is one of the UK’s biggest campaigning organisations. 38 Degrees brings people together to take action on the issues that matter to them and to bring about real change in the UK.

News

Pembroke Dock man sent to Crown Court over alleged ABH assault

Published

6 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Charge relates to incident in the town last weekend

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been sent to the Crown Court for trial after appearing before magistrates accused of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Darren Markes, aged 47, of High Street, Pembroke Dock, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard that Markes is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to the Offences Against the Person Act.

The charge relates to an alleged incident on Friday (Dec 13) in Pembroke Dock, when it is alleged that Markes assaulted a woman, causing her actual bodily harm.

No plea was entered at the hearing.

Due to the seriousness of the allegation, magistrates declined jurisdiction and ordered that the case be sent to the Crown Court for trial under the Crime and Disorder Act.

Markes was remanded on conditional bail. Conditions include:

Not contacting a witness, directly or indirectly
Reporting to Pembroke Dock police station every Wednesday between 12:00pm and 2:00pm
Living and sleeping each night at his home address

He is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Jan 16) at 9:30am for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Crime

Aberystwyth man denies criminal damage charge over Cardigan gallery window

Published

6 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Alleged incident said to have taken place on Bridge Street

AN ABERYSTWYTH man has denied a charge of criminal damage relating to an alleged incident in Cardigan.

Ricky Myers, aged 27, of Jasper House, Aberystwyth, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard that Myers is accused of criminal damage to property valued under £5,000, contrary to the Criminal Damage Act 1971.

The charge relates to an incident on Saturday (Aug 24, 2024) at Manchester House on Bridge Street, Cardigan, where it is alleged that a window at the Cardigan Gallery was damaged. The property is said to belong to Peter Austin.

Myers pleaded not guilty to the allegation.

Magistrates adjourned the case for further case management, and Myers was remanded on conditional bail, with a condition that he live and sleep each night at his home address.

He is due to return to court at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 17) at 2:00pm.

Crime

Pembroke Dock man remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on string of offences

Published

6 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Harassment charge and three assaults among cases listed for Llanelli court

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing after admitting a series of offences, including harassment and assaults.

Tony Brundrett, aged 21, of Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard Brundrett has pleaded guilty to harassment without violence, contrary to the Protection from Harassment Act. The charge alleges that between Tuesday (Sep 17) and Thursday (Oct 31) at Spring View, Pembroke Dock, he pursued a course of conduct amounting to harassment of a female, including attending her home address and contacting her by text message.

He has also admitted assault by beating against the same female, alleged to have taken place on Wednesday (May 21) at Spring View, Pembroke Dock, and a further assault by beating against a second female on Thursday (Oct 30), also at Spring View.

Magistrates were additionally told that Brundrett faces a further allegation of common assault against a third female, said to have occurred on Tuesday (Dec 9) at Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock. No plea was recorded to that matter in the register entry.

Brundrett has also pleaded guilty to a number of offences linked to an incident in Haverfordwest on Saturday (Nov 16). These include:

Aggravated vehicle taking, involving a Vauxhall Corsa, with damage caused before recovery
Using a motor vehicle without insurance
Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence
Criminal damage, involving a window belonging to Pembrokeshire County Council

He was remanded in custody, with the next hearing listed at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 31) at 10:00am.