News

Santa visits Cardigan banks with some motley elves, and a polar bear

Published

2 years ago

December 22, 2023

IF YOU WENT down to Cardigan last week, you may have seen Santa, some motley elves, a polar bear and a bank manager making some visits.

They were visiting all the banks in town, and looking at whether they have been naughty or nice this year. Those which have been naughty, through funding an expansion of fossil fuels were given a potato as a mark of disapproval, while any which have made moves away from this were rewarded with chocolate.

While this was a fun spectacle, put on by the Cardigan Extinction Rebellion group, there was a serious message behind it. One of the group, Jane Mansfield explained,

“We have just experienced the warmest year on record, record wild fires and the lowest ever recorded levels of sea ice. The science is clear. In their report Net Zero by 2050, The International Energy Agency told us categorically that we could have no new oil and gas if we are to have a chance of limiting warming to 1.5°C

And yet the Rainforest Action Network report, Banking on Climate Chaos 2023 shows that Barclays remain the world’s 7th largest funder of fossil fuels, shamefully still financing new oil and gas projects, often in extremely vulnerable parts of the world such as the Amazon and the Arctic.”

Sian Vaughan, a retired head teacher, dressed as an elf last week, added, “In the last 12 months for which figures are available (2022) Barclays have funded new coal mining, new arctic oil and gas, new tar sands, new oil and gas in the Amazon, new offshore oil and gas, new fracking and new liquid natural gas. So it is one of the key banks accelerating climate breakdown by financing the burning of fossil fuels and biomass and the destruction of nature.”

The Extinction Rebellion group said that HSBC’s record is only marginally less ‘naughty’ than Barclays, so they also received a potato from Santa.

Jim Bowen, CEO of Clynfyw Care Farm, who was the tallest elf, pointed out that not all high street banks are equally bad. “Lloyds bank has definitely moved in the right direction. It has the lowest fossil fuel investments of any of the major UK banks. and put no new money into fossil fuels last year. So Lloyds Bank in Cardigan were given chocolates by Santa this year.” And he added, “While we want high street banks in town, we want them to improve their policies – for the sake of the planet and the future of all of us”.

Apart from the banks, 2 shops also received an unexpected visit from Santa and his helpers – Oxfam and the Eco Shop, to thank them for all their good work for the planet.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

12 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

12 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

12 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.