Crime
How the Post Office Horizon scandal profoundly impacted lives across Wales

IT’S a story etched by systemic shortcomings and individual resilience. And thanks to the recent ITV drama “Mr Bates vs the Post Office” its one which we all now know. The Post Office Horizon scandal has profoundly impacted lives across Wales and beyond, entangling figures like Tim Brentnall from Pembrokeshire and Lorraine Williams from Llanddaniel, Anglesey. Their experiences, are similar despite taking place on opposite ends of Wales. They are unified by a shared ordeal of injustice and a relentless pursuit for redemption – Tom Sinclair reports.
Tim Brentnall, a young entrepreneur from Roch, Pembrokeshire, saw his aspirations crumble when an audit in 2009 revealed a £22,000 shortfall at his post office branch. This led to a chain of events that upended his life. Despite no evidence of wrongdoing, the pressure to resolve the discrepancy saw Tim’s family take out a loan to cover the supposed shortfall, only for him to be prosecuted and advised to plead guilty. This resulted in an 18-month suspended sentence and 200 hours of community service. The guilt plea, made under distressing circumstances, cast a long shadow over Tim’s life, leading to social ostracization and personal turmoil.
In a parallel ordeal, Lorraine Williams from Llanddaniel, Anglesey, faced a similar plight. A cornerstone of her community, Lorraine’s world was turned upside down when she was wrongly accused of stealing over £14,600. Coerced into pleading guilty to false accounting to avoid more severe charges, she too received an 18-month suspended sentence and 200 hours of community service. Her conviction shattered her standing in the community she had served so selflessly.
Central to both Tim’s and Lorraine’s stories is the figure of Stephen Bradshaw, the Post Office investigator whose methods in pursuing these cases have been heavily scrutinized. Bradshaw, known for his pugnacious determination, played a pivotal role in the investigation, often refusing to consider the possibility of innocence or the potential flaws in the Horizon system. His appearance during the Post Office scandal inquiry and his portrayal in the TV drama have highlighted his aggressive approach and unwavering stance in these investigations.
In addition to his inability to comprehend the complexities of the Horizon system, he was evasive about his bonus arrangements. This evasiveness further underlines the corrupt practices that have marred the integrity of the Post Office’s management.
Bradshaw’s actions, particularly his single-minded pursuit of convictions and repayment of alleged debts, have drawn comparisons to those of a ‘mafia gangster’, a term used by some to describe his behavior. Despite these accusations, Bradshaw maintained that his investigations were conducted professionally and that he was simply following orders to defend the Horizon system. His lack of technical expertise, as he admitted to not being “technically minded,” raised questions about his ability to fairly assess the situations he was investigating.

The experiences of Tim and Lorraine, along with those of hundreds of other sub-postmasters, culminated in the quashing of their convictions in April 2021, marking a significant step in rectifying this miscarriage of justice. Their stories, part of a wider narrative involving 736 wrongfully prosecuted individuals, underscore the most extensive legal misstep in UK history.
As the independent inquiry into the scandal continues, the focus on Tim’s and Lorraine’s experiences, and the role of figures like Stephen Bradshaw, brings to light the intricate interplay of personal suffering, technological failures, and institutional accountability. This scandal serves as a stark reminder of the necessity for transparency and responsibility in corporate and government systems, and the dire consequences when these are neglected.

In the aftermath of these events, the resilience of Tim Brentnall, Lorraine Williams, and others like them stands as a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to endure and seek justice in the face of overwhelming odds. Their stories, extending beyond Pembrokeshire and Anglesey, highlight the urgent need for vigilance and reform in institutions that are entrusted with public service. As they reclaim their dignity and continue to advocate for accountability, their experiences serve as a poignant reminder of the enduring impact of systemic failings and the importance of upholding justice for all.
Crime
Man avoids jail despite possessing child abuse images

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been spared immediate custody after police found almost 70 indecent images of children on his mobile phone — including one image of a child aged around three whose hands and ankles were bound.
Andrew Davies, aged 36, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Apr 1), having earlier pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent photographs of children.
The court heard that officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a search warrant at Davies’ home on Brewery Street in November 2022. Davies was present at the property and handed over a mobile phone along with the PIN code to unlock it.
Upon examination of the device, officers discovered 67 illegal images. These included nine category A images — the most serious classification — 14 category B images, and 44 category C images. The images had been downloaded and stored in a password-protected application.
Prosecuting, Sian Cutter said one of the images showed a child estimated to be three years old with their limbs restrained. She told the court that all of the material was accessible on the device and had been intentionally downloaded.
In mitigation, defence barrister Ryan Bowen said Davies was “under no illusion as to the seriousness of his offending”. He said the offences dated back to 2019, and that the matter had been hanging over Davies for several years.
Mr Bowen added: “He has no previous convictions and is of otherwise good character. He accepts responsibility for his actions and has shown insight and a willingness to address his behaviour. There is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.”
Sentencing, Her Honour Judge Catherine Richards told Davies: “The possession and viewing of child sexual abuse images causes direct harm to real children. It is a very serious aggravating factor that some of the images involve children as young as three.”
Davies was handed three prison terms of eight, four and two months, to run concurrently, making a total of eight months. The sentence was suspended for two years.
He must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and attend 25 rehabilitation activity days. He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years.
Crime
Leaked messages point to leadership crisis at HMP Parc

Staff mocked suicide and bragged about assaults as G4S failed to intervene
A CULTURE of violence, cruelty and neglect flourished unchecked at HMP Parc — which houses many prisoners from Pembrokeshire — while prison leadership appeared to look the other way, a cache of leaked messages obtained by The Herald suggests.
The explosive text and social media messages — exchanged between serving and former officers at the privately-run Bridgend jail — reveal not only a disturbing level of misconduct among some frontline staff, but a prison seemingly adrift, without effective oversight or internal accountability.
Officers joked about suicide attempts, bragged about violent assaults, and casually described provoking vulnerable inmates into confrontation — all in the open, with no reference to line managers, disciplinary consequences, or intervention from senior staff.
In one message, an officer writes: “Let’s push him to go tomorrow so we can drop him.” Another adds: “They smashed him into the shower lol,” with a colleague replying: “Good! I hope they hurt him too.”
In a separate conversation, a prisoner who had slit his wrists is described as “daft” and someone who should be sent “to a f lonnie bin.” One officer joked: “He’ll tie a bag around his neck,” followed by: “Too much paperwork,” and “Don’t have to do paperwork if you pretend not to see it.”

No fear of consequences
The messages, some of which were shared on social media last summer, contain no suggestion that those involved feared being caught or disciplined. In fact, the tone throughout is brazen, boastful and often gleeful — pointing to what campaigners now describe as a complete failure of leadership inside the prison.
“There’s no mention of superiors, no sense that anyone was trying to stop this,” one prison reform advocate told The Herald. “That tells you everything you need to know about the culture at the top.”
The Herald was the first to report on the leaked messages, which have since been seen by national media including the BBC, PA and The Independent. Their contents have now become part of an ongoing criminal investigation by South Wales Police.
Ten officers arrested — but no managers held accountable
Since September 2024, ten officers at HMP Parc have been arrested on suspicion of assault and misconduct in public office.
Four arrests were made on 20 September 2024, but all four individuals were later released without charge. In January 2025, six more officers were detained, with five bailed until the end of April and one released under investigation.
South Wales Police told The Herald: “The investigation remains ongoing, and officers are continuing to work closely with G4S.”
Despite the scale of the investigation, no senior managers or governors at the prison have been suspended, dismissed, or formally investigated. G4S has confirmed that three of the officers arrested in the first phase have been dismissed, and a fourth remains suspended pending disciplinary action.
Campaigners say that is not enough.
“If this level of abuse was happening openly among officers, leadership either knew and did nothing, or they were completely unaware of the day-to-day culture inside their own prison,” one former prison inspector said. “Either way, it’s a failure.”
Seventeen deaths in one year

The crisis at Parc has unfolded against a grim backdrop: seventeen inmates died in the prison during 2024, making it the deadliest prison in the UK that year.
In a letter to the House of Lords’ Justice and Home Affairs Committee in October, Prisons Minister James Timpson confirmed that the Ministry of Justice’s anti-corruption unit is actively investigating the facility.
In December, MPs were told that organised criminal gangs were smuggling drugs and weapons into Parc via children’s nappies and industrial drones. A riot in 2023 led to the replacement of the prison’s director by mutual agreement, with new leadership installed — but problems appear to have persisted.
“Catastrophic safeguarding failure”
In March 2025, The Herald reported on a separate police investigation into the alleged sexual assault of a vulnerable young inmate on X1 Wing. The victim, aged 18–19, was reportedly scalded with boiling water and forced to perform a sexual act at knifepoint by a known high-risk offender.
Campaigners questioned how the attacker — flagged in his OASys risk assessment as dangerous and premeditated — was allowed to share a cell with a vulnerable young prisoner.
Zack Griffiths, of the HMP Prisons Justice Group, said: “A vulnerable young person was left exposed to a violent, dangerous offender, and the consequences have been devastating. This isn’t just an individual crime — it’s a catastrophic failure of the prison system to safeguard those in its care.”
G4S response and silence from above

In a statement, a spokesperson for G4S said: “We are absolutely committed to rooting out any wrongdoing. Of the four individuals who were arrested and released without charge by South Wales Police, three have been dismissed from the company and one remains suspended pending the outcome of a disciplinary process.
Our staff are expected to treat everyone with dignity and respect and we have a zero-tolerance approach to dealing with any staff behaviour that falls short of our standards. The vast majority of our staff are hardworking and honest.”
The Prison Reform Trust declined to provide an on-the-record statement, but confirmed they have been hearing concerns from prisoners at HMP Parc and offered to speak off the record about broader issues within the prison system.
Calls grow for independent inquiry
With police investigations continuing, no charges brought, and no senior leadership held publicly accountable, calls are growing for a fully independent public inquiry into how HMP Parc has been run — and how such a corrosive environment was allowed to take hold.
“This isn’t just about a few bad officers,” one whistleblower said. “This is a broken culture, and it starts at the top.”
Parc, the largest prison in Wales, remains one of the few in the UK run by a private contractor. For families of those who died behind its walls, and for the growing number of victims still inside, answers cannot come soon enough.
Crime
Driver found slumped at wheel was three times over drink-drive limit

A MOTORIST found slumped over his steering wheel with the engine still running has admitted being three times over the legal drink-drive limit.
Robert McMillan, 44, was spotted by another driver at around 1:00pm on September 19 while parked near St Florence. Concerned for his welfare, the member of the public called police.
“A member of the public contacted the police as they were concerned that he’d either been drinking, taking drugs, or had a medical issue,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.
“The engine was running and when the member of the public asked him if he was ok, the defendant gave him a thumbs-up.”
Following his arrest, a blood sample revealed McMillan had 272 micrograms of alcohol in his system—the legal limit is 80.
This week McMillan pleaded guilty to drink-driving. In mitigation, he claimed he had consumed a pint of alcohol at a pub in Penally and, after suspecting he had a flat tyre, pulled into a layby and drank three-quarters of a bottle of wine he had in the car.
“This led to his high reading as normally he doesn’t drink alcohol like this,” said probation officer Julie Norman.
However, the Crown disputed this version of events. CCTV footage played in court captured the member of the public telling officers that McMillan had fallen out of his vehicle.
McMillan was represented by solicitor Alaw Harries, who said the offence would have serious repercussions.
“For the past 17 years, Mr McMillan has worked for a mental health charity based in Cardiff, but his role involves a significant amount of driving,” she said. “His employers are now going to have to reconsider his position. This is going to have a huge impact on both himself and others. He’s disappointed in himself and is extremely sorry.”
Magistrates disqualified McMillan from driving for 28 months and imposed a 12-month community order, requiring him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.
Due to the level of alcohol in his system, McMillan is now classed as a high-risk offender and must prove he is medically fit to drive before reapplying for his licence.
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