News

Bryn could return on Monday, following pay-off shambles

Published

11 years ago

October 31, 2014

In Chaos: County Hall

LAURENCE HARDING, the County Council’s Monitoring Officer, has become embroiled in the row between the Wales Audit Office (WAO) and the Council regarding the £330K settlement agreement with controversial Chief Executive Bryn Parry-Jones.

In a letter sent to all councillors, Mr Harding has claimed that the appointed auditor, Anthony Barnett, has reneged on an agreement to withdraw the Notice served on the Council advising them that WAO regards the terms of the bonanza pay-out to be unlawful.

Mr Harding has told Councillors: “Yesterday, I became involved in the discussions, having been served with a copy of the Notice. I discussed the resolution reached the previous afternoon with Mr Barrett when he also informed me that he would be publishing the Advisory Notice and issuing a press statement. He confirmed that the withdrawal of the notice would be issued on Thursday (30 October). I subsequently formally confirmed the action that the Council would take, which complied with the Advisory Notice, and requested that he withdraw the Notice as he had previously stated. He then advised that, contrary to our previous understanding, he would not now be withdrawing the Notice.”

Shambles over pay-off: Bryn-Parry Jones

In the letter Mr Harding also claims that while the WAO had been informed of the proposed financial settlement before the Council meeting which approved the deal on October 16, Mr Barrett was not personally involved in those discussions until after the meeting took place.

He then goes on to state that, upon becoming involved in the process: “Mr Barrett identified concerns relating to pension elements that had been included in the calculation of the severance payment… The Council’s external legal advisors were of the opinion that Mr Barrett’s concerns were unfounded.”

While Mr Harding states that “negotiations are on-going with the Chief executive (with the WAO being kept informed)”, it appears as though the Council is potentially facing another battle with the auditors over the decision in 2011 to allow Bryn Parry-Jones avoid future tax liabilities on his £1.5m+ publicly-funded pension pot.

Advising Councillors on the way forward, Mr Harding appears to contemplate the Council becoming involved in a court case with the WAO, writing: “If the Council determines to proceed to implement its original decision in full, Mr Barrett has the opportunity to institute Judicial Review proceeding for a court to rule on whether the decision does relate to an unlawful decision.”

The WAO’s stance means that it is possible that Chief Executive Bryn Parry-Jones could return to work at County Hall on Monday.

Yesterday evening, The Herald was informed that in correspondence with Labour Group leader Paul Miller, Laurence Harding stated: “As a consequence of the Advisory Notice and the outcome of discussions with the WAO, an Extraordinary Meeting of Council is being arranged – probably on a day next week.”

This morning, however, a Council spokesperson is reported to have denied such a meeting is being scheduled.

A spokesperson for the WAO said: “The Appointed Auditor believes any new settlement ought to go before the council and has advised the council this.”

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

28 minutes 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

50 minutes 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

56 minutes 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.