News

Youth homelessness

Published

11 years ago

November 13, 2014

THE HOMELESSNESS of young adults in the county of Pembrokeshire at the moment is everyone’s business, but seems to be no-one’s problem. The Local Government Act, introduced in the UK in 2000, placed a duty of care on local authorities to ensure that they prepared a so-called ‘community strategy’ in a bid to combat the nationwide homelessness issues.

It seems that the local County Council would benefit from a marked depreciation in homelessness countywide as it would mean an improvement in the housing and property market. With a fixed address people would be more likely to secure jobs, thus contributing back into the economy, improving financial welfare and cutting down on crime and anti-social behaviour in the area. The County Council outlines a series of steps designed to help relieve the issue of homelessness in the area, i.e. providing advice regarding housing to those who request it. Additionally they endeavour to identify what they call ‘gaps in service’, for example the lack of information and support to those who are homeless or facing homelessness.

They may also wish to consider setting up a scheme to ensure a reduction in the likelihood of tenancy failures. Indeed, many homelessness issues in the area are caused as a result of unaffordable housing, or rather a lack of affordable housing. Particularly since the recession, when money has become tighter, it is pertinent for housing and rental prices to be adjusted accordingly. Unfortunately they are currently not conducive with the levels of recession and downturn in earnings that people are experiencing even still.

The council has set up emergency accommodation for the homeless including; social housing, hostels, shelters etc. One such hostel managed by the council is in Tenby, holds nine rooms and is readily available to those who may require it. However there is something of a disparity between the availability of suitable accommodation for homeless in the north of the county, versus the south. This is an issue that the council needs to address before it becomes an incremental problem. There are a few steps that need to be taken in order to help combat the county’s homelessness situation. There is a need to establish properties that could be used for homeless housing, i.e. abandoned buildings.

It is also important to have facilities and services in place for young homeless, and in particular singletons. Oftentimes there are inadequate resources in place to mediate in the event of a relationship breakdown, where young adults may fall out with their families and become homeless as a result. Furthermore, there is not enough social housing and due to the fact that private sector housing is made up primarily of private landlords, this does not allow for leasing schemes or the development of private sector projects for the homeless. Additionally it is vital to offer increasing and constant tenant support for the area, offering people advice and guidance and trying to work closely with people in vulnerable situations in order to curb the risk of them losing their tenancies and thus becoming homeless.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

5 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 of alleged offences including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, 40, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, faces six linked charges arising from incidents reported to have taken place earlier this year. Alcock, who did not enter pleas during the administrative hearings, appeared on several occasions as the court dealt with bail issues and case management.

Multiple assault allegations
The charges listed before magistrates include:
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional strangulation
Common assault of a woman
Criminal damage relating to a domestic incident
Further assault allegations linked to the same complainant
A breach of bail conditions

The court heard that Alcock had previously been granted conditional bail. However, he was brought back before magistrates twice during the same reporting period for alleged breaches of those conditions, resulting in updated bail decisions.

Bail breached — defendant remanded

On two separate entries in the court register, Alcock was listed as having breached his bail, leading magistrates to remand him into custody pending the next hearing. On other dates within the same week, he was again re-released on conditional bail, with strict terms imposed, including restrictions on contact with the complainant and exclusions from certain locations.

He is now remanded on conditional bail with his next appearance set for Swansea Crown Court, where the more serious matters — including the alleged non-fatal strangulation — will be dealt with.

Case sent to Crown Court

Magistrates directed that the case is too serious to be heard locally and must proceed to the Crown Court for trial or sentence.

The Herald understands that all listed charges fall under the same prosecution reference, indicating they form part of a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution. No further details were opened in court at this stage.

Crime

Rogue roofer conned homeowner out of thousands

Published

21 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Caerphilly investigation leads to court conviction

A ROGUE trader from Pembroke has been ordered to pay more than £6,000 after duping a homeowner into handing over thousands for unnecessary roofing work.

Douggie Whitbread, aged twenty-five and living at Coldwell Terrace, Pembroke, persuaded his victim that he “probably needed a new roof” before charging £4,350 for work that was either unnecessary or not carried out properly.

Whitbread admitted two counts of fraud relating to a property on Griffiths Street, Ystrad Mynach, with the offences taking place between August 12 and October 16, 2023.

He appeared before Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court, where he was ordered to pay a total of £6,130. That includes £4,350 in compensation, £1,500 in prosecution costs, a £200 fine, and an £80 victim surcharge.

The case was brought following an investigation by Caerphilly Trading Standards, who urged residents to be cautious of unsolicited offers of home maintenance work.

News

South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association – Week Twelve results

Published

39 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Herald Sport

A PACKET week of fixtures in the South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association’s Friendly League saw key wins at both ends of the table as teams continue to jostle for position going into the second half of the season.

Match results (Week 12):

Hundleton 10–0 Lamphey
Badgers 2–8 St Johns
Reynalton 0–10 Carew
Kilgetty 8–2 East Williamston
Cosheston v Llanteg – postponed
St Twynnells – bye week

A previously postponed fixture was also completed, with St Twynnells drawing 5–5 with Reynaltón.

League table (after Week 12):
East Williamston remain top, having played 10 and won eight, with a strong shots difference of +125. Reynaltón sit second after 11 games with 58 points, while St Johns and Hundleton follow closely behind on 54 points each.

At the mid-table mark, Carew (49 points), St Twynnells (48) and Kilgetty (46) remain tightly grouped. Badgers, Lamphey, Llanteg and Cosheston make up the lower order, though the number of games played varies, leaving room for movement in the coming weeks.

Full standings:

Team	P	W	D	L	S/D	Points
East Williamston	10	8	0	2	+125	72
Reynaltón	11	5	2	4	+35	58
St Johns	10	5	1	4	+32	54
Hundleton	10	5	1	4	-2	54
Carew	9	5	0	4	-25	49
St Twynnells	10	4	2	4	-34	48
Kilgetty	11	5	0	6	-44	46
Badgers	11	3	1	7	-59	45
Lamphey	11	5	0	6	-10	44
Llanteg	8	4	0	4	-5	41
Cosheston	9	3	1	5	-13	40