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Crime

Recycling company brought before Judge after JCB crushes employee

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A PEMBROKESHIRE-BASED recycling company has been brought before a district judge after an employee was seriously injured by a JCB loading shovel.

TBS Recycling and Skip Hire appeared before Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest magistrates court earlier this week when company director, Steven Thomas, pleaded guilty to failing to discharge general health, safety and welfare duties to an employee.

The incident occurred on March 31, 2021, at the TBS recycling and skip hire unit which is situated at the Waterston Industrial Estate, between Neyland and Milford Haven.

“An employee of the company was working on the site when he spotted something caught in the wheel of a four-ton JCB,” commented a lawyer for the Health and Safety Executive.

“He went to clear it and the person who was in the [JCB] driving seat knew he was doing it. But he was distracted and believed the other employee had left. So he lowered the shovel, but it crushed him.”

As a result, the employee sustained crushed ribs and damage to his lungs and breathing.

“But he’s since made a good recovery,” said the Health and Safety Executive lawyer.

Steven Thomas, of Cross Farm, Walwyns Castle Road, Ties Cross, will be sentenced by Judge Layton when he sits at Llanelli Magistrates Court on June 6.

Crime

Full justice devolution ‘not on the agenda’

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A UNITED Kingdom minister appeared to “row back” on a commitment to devolve powers over probation and youth justice to Wales, with Westminster set to retain responsibility.

In 2019, an independent commission – led by Lord Thomas, the former head of the judiciary recommended that justice policy should be “determined and delivered” in Wales.

But, nearly six years on, devolution has stalled, with Welsh and UK ministers suggesting a phased and piecemeal approach to transferring powers as happened in Greater Manchester.

In November, a report set out three options for devolution: transfer of executive powers, full law-making and executive responsibilities, or an agreement on commissioning services.

And, giving evidence to the Senedd equality and social justice committee today, ministers implied the Welsh and UK Governments will pursue the co-commissioning model.

Lord Timpson, the UK prisons and probation minister, intimated that devolution would not be a priority amid “massive pressures” on the justice system.

Mick Antoniw, the former counsel general or chief legal adviser to the Welsh Government, pointed to “volumes of evidence” that devolution of probation “needs to happen and quickly”.

Senedd counsel general Mick Antoniw
Labour MS Mick Antoniw

Lord Timpson, who lives over the border but near HMP Berwyn, one of the UK’s biggest prisons, said colleagues have had a meeting on local delivery options for youth justice.

He told the committee UK ministers would look at the Greater Manchester model but he cautioned of “huge” pressures and a need for stability.

“If we lurch from problem to problem, we are just going to put sticking plasters all over everything,” he said, advocating “sensible, sustainable and evidence-led” policy instead.

Lord Timpson stated he was more concerned about challenges in probation than prisons – warning the service is unstable, with probation officers having an average caseload of 35.

Mr Antoniw pressed his Labour colleague about the need to transfer powers over probation, given that many of the levers for keeping people out of prison are devolved.

“It seems to me there’s no logical response to that other than we’ve had a decade of delay on actually looking at the enormous accumulation of evidence,” he said.

“What you seem to be suggesting is that we’re going to go through that process of just continually looking at the evidence without ever really coming to a proper conclusion.”

Lord Timpson – who was chief executive of Timpson, the retailer founded by his father Sir John, until 2024 – warned probation remained “bruised” from previous reforms.

“We need to be in a much more stable position before we can start talking about further changes,” he said, referring to the Conservatives’ “transforming rehabilitation” programme.

Pressed by Adam Price, the former MP and ex-Plaid Cymru leader, Lord Timpson suggested devolution will not be a priority until “massive pressures” stabilise.

Plaid Cymru MS Adam Price
Plaid Cymru MS Adam Price

Mr Price pointed out that powers over budgets and making laws would remain at Westminster under a co-commissioning model similar to Manchester’s.

He asked: “Are you saying that… the full devolution of executive and legislative powers, that’s not something that is on your agenda?”

Lord Timpson reiterated his focus on making prison and probation services sustainable. Pinned down on the point, the politician replied: “I’m not ruling anything out, I’m not ruling anything in. What I’m focused on is trying to sort out the crisis in our justice system.”

Labour’s Jenny Rathbone questioned why more than 25% of the 5,000 Welsh prisoners are held in English jails when Wales has nearly 6,000 prison places of its own.

Labour MS Jenny Rathbone
Labour MS Jenny Rathbone

Lord Timpson pointed to capacity pressures with prisons 98.2% full, security in terms of organised crime, and the lack of a category A (high risk) or women’s prison in Wales.

He told the committee: “We need to use the estate really efficiently and that means, unfortunately, some Welsh prisoners are not in prisons in Wales.”

Jane Dodds, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, expressed concerns about research showing Wales has the highest imprisonment rate in western Europe.

Jane Dodds MS, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats
Jane Dodds MS, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats

Lord Timpson replied: “80% of offending is reoffending and, clearly, something has been going wrong for a long time. Our prisons are growing and we’re going to have more people in prison by the time of the next election than at any other time in our history.”

In 2019, a Cardiff University report warned of the “jagged edge” of justice, with intersecting responsibilities and Wales often overlooked by Westminster.

Ms Rathbone, who chairs the committee, warned: “I’m concerned about stabilising a broken system because it’s costing a fortune to the taxpayer and the individuals caught up in it.”

She called for an explanation of “no progress” on matters that have been “discussed endlessly for decades”, citing the example of a women’s residential centre in Swansea.

Lord Timpson said: “I think we need to look at the options, we need to look at the costs,” adding that the key is how to divert women from the justice system in the first place.

Altaf Hussain, a Conservative Senedd Member, expressed concerns about deaths at HMP Parc amid a “serious decline in standards” at the prison in Bridgend.

Conservative MS Altaf Hussain
Conservative MS Altaf Hussain

Lord Timpson, whose younger brother was a Tory MP, replied: “They’ve obviously had a terrible number of self-inflicted deaths at the prison but I think things feel far more stable.”

He said the governor told him 98% of problems are down to drugs, with drone-proof windows set to be installed by August 2026. “That will make a significant difference,” he said.

Ms Dodds raised wider problems: “The prison inspectorate reported there’s not enough food to eat, prisoners are stuck in their cells 21 hours a day [and] self harm has gone up by 60%.”

Lord Timpson stressed the Labour UK Government inherited a system in crisis. “I’ve never known it so bad,” he said, pointing to “big strides” over the past 12 months.

He left the scrutiny session more than 20 minutes early to vote in the House of Lords.

Following the meeting on July 14, the Senedd’s equality and justice committee criticised the “deeply disappointing” evidence from Lord Timpson.

Ms Rathbone said “We are very disappointed to hear Lord Timpson say that the UK Government could row back its promises on the devolution of youth justice and probation.

“These policies were supported by several significant constitutional reports and endorsed by the independent commission on the constitutional future of Wales.

“The report from Gordon Brown’s commission on the UK’s future said new powers over youth justice and the probation service should be made available…

“The Welsh Government has already started the groundwork to prepare because it believed there was a realistic prospect that these aspects could be devolved soon.

“This is in stark contrast to Lord Timpson’s evidence before the committee today which seemed to pour cold water on the prospect.”

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Crime

Trial to take place over shoplifting allegation in Pembroke Dock

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A PEMBROKESHIRE man now living in Swansea has been remanded in custody ahead of a trial later this month over an alleged theft from a Home Bargains store in Pembroke Dock.

GARETH MANN, aged 48, of no fixed address but previously linked to the St Thomas area of Swansea, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (July 14) for a case mention hearing.

Mann is accused of stealing hair clips and various other items of unknown value from the Home Bargains store on Pier Road on June 7. He pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing on June 9.

Magistrates were told that Mann remains in custody and is a recalled prisoner. He has been refused bail on the basis of the nature and seriousness of the offence, his previous record, and concerns that he may fail to attend court or commit further offences.

The trial is scheduled to take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday, July 21, at 2:00pm. It is expected to last around 20 minutes.

The case is being prosecuted by Sian Vaughan, with Alaw Harries representing the defendant. The bench was made up of Mr C Pattison, Mr L Evetts and Mr A Smith.

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Crime

Johnston man remanded in custody over criminal damage allegation

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A JOHNSTON man has been remanded in custody after allegedly smashing a television belonging to a couple in Pembroke Dock.

ASHLEY RICKARD, aged 28, who is of no fixed address but gave Vine Road, Johnston as his last known location, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (July 14) charged with one count of criminal damage.

The court heard that on July 4, Rickard is accused of intentionally damaging a television belonging to David and Pearl Compton. The value of the TV was not disclosed.

The alleged incident took place in Pembroke Dock, and Rickard is accused of either intending to damage the property or acting recklessly as to whether it would be damaged, in breach of the Criminal Damage Act 1971.

He did not enter a plea during the hearing and was remanded in custody due to concerns he may interfere with witnesses, fail to surrender, or commit further offences. The bench also considered his previous record and the seriousness of the allegation.

Rickard is next due to appear at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, July 17, where a bail application is expected to be made. The court granted a CVP (video link) request for his solicitor due to prior commitments in Swansea Magistrates’ Court.

The case is being prosecuted by Sian Vaughan, with Tom Lloyd representing the defendant. The magistrates hearing the case were Mr C Pattison, Mr L Evetts, and Mr A Smith.

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