News

Grants scandal: Ex-cabinet member speaks out

Published

11 years ago

November 21, 2014

Tom Sinclair

• ‘I found dodgy payments in a matter of minutes’
• Council director ‘refused’ to discipline staff involved

Cllr David Williams

A NEW perspective was given to the Pembroke Dock grants scandal by former Cabinet Member David Simpson. Speaking exclusively to The Pembrokeshire Herald about the insight he had gained, Councillor Simpson, who is also a magistrate, told us: “I have several concerns about the grants investigation. When Councillor Mike Stoddart started to put things on his webpage, I had nothing to do with grants. I wasn’t even on the Audit Committee. I would read his page and I would go in the next morning and always question David Pugh about what was going on.

Inevitably, I would end up speaking to Gwyn Evans (the council’s European Manager). I was reassured over and over again over months that everything in the grants system was whiter than white. So, I questioned everything Mike Stoddart said. When I got on to the Audit Committee, I started to see more information. John Evans (the former Audit Chair) was very supportive of efforts to investigate and look at the grants. There was an instance at council when Cllr Stoddart wanted to see the documents relating to the grants.

I disagreed because I thought that would give one councillor exclusive access to information. So, I said that the right way forward was through the Audit Committee. “ He went on to explain: “The grants issue had been brought up before by Michael Williams and I wanted the Audit Committee to get a grip of it. I actually went in to County Hall one morning and spoke with Jon Haswell and asked him if I could see the fi les. I was particularly interested in 29 Dimond Street. Within 20 minutes I had found £8,000; in another hour and a half I had found £22,000 of irregular payments with the potential for a further £23,000.

There was around £46,000 of wrongful payments on that spreadsheet. I am no auditor, I’m just an ex-businessman. I can only confi rm that what I saw is the same as what everybody else saw. It went through Audit Committee. All the documents were put in a sealed room so everyone could see them.” Cllr Simpson continued: “Councillor Stoddart found out what I did and more and on other properties. The work of the Audit Committee was being done properly. Councillor Stoddart was involved in it, not even a member of the Audit Committee, but he was involved and acted very professionally. John Evans wanted a full audit of every project involving Mr McCosker, but I said to do 29 Dimond Street as a sample, because once we have found one set of problems we can then do the rest.

There was a bit of argy-bargy about the content of the Audit Report. It was decided the Director with responsibility for the grants (Dr Steven Jones) should have access to that report and be allowed to comment and to make adjustments. Which he did do (long pause) he did do. He acted upon 95% of all mistakes that were brought up. There was one thing he didn’t do, which was about offi cers’ conduct. He didn’t do anything about that until the last meeting on Monday (Sept 22).I have asked him on many occasions – many occasions – why were no offi cers suspended, when there is gross incompetence on the part of one or more offi cers. I went through the Audit report with Steven Jones.

One of the main concerns for me was that disciplinary action was needed. I asked why one member of staff had not been suspended and he told me he was not going to suspend him. So that was that! His reply was that he was not going to suspend him even though I know for a fact that Jon Haswell (now Head of Finance) and Kerry MacDermott (Head of Revenue Services) in the same circumstances would have suspended the member of staff concerned.”

News

Pembroke Dock man sent to Crown Court over alleged ABH assault

Published

5 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Charge relates to incident in the town last weekend

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been sent to the Crown Court for trial after appearing before magistrates accused of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Darren Markes, aged 47, of High Street, Pembroke Dock, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard that Markes is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to the Offences Against the Person Act.

The charge relates to an alleged incident on Friday (Dec 13) in Pembroke Dock, when it is alleged that Markes assaulted a woman, causing her actual bodily harm.

No plea was entered at the hearing.

Due to the seriousness of the allegation, magistrates declined jurisdiction and ordered that the case be sent to the Crown Court for trial under the Crime and Disorder Act.

Markes was remanded on conditional bail. Conditions include:

Not contacting a witness, directly or indirectly
Reporting to Pembroke Dock police station every Wednesday between 12:00pm and 2:00pm
Living and sleeping each night at his home address

He is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Jan 16) at 9:30am for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Crime

Aberystwyth man denies criminal damage charge over Cardigan gallery window

Published

5 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Alleged incident said to have taken place on Bridge Street

AN ABERYSTWYTH man has denied a charge of criminal damage relating to an alleged incident in Cardigan.

Ricky Myers, aged 27, of Jasper House, Aberystwyth, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard that Myers is accused of criminal damage to property valued under £5,000, contrary to the Criminal Damage Act 1971.

The charge relates to an incident on Saturday (Aug 24, 2024) at Manchester House on Bridge Street, Cardigan, where it is alleged that a window at the Cardigan Gallery was damaged. The property is said to belong to Peter Austin.

Myers pleaded not guilty to the allegation.

Magistrates adjourned the case for further case management, and Myers was remanded on conditional bail, with a condition that he live and sleep each night at his home address.

He is due to return to court at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 17) at 2:00pm.

Crime

Pembroke Dock man remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on string of offences

Published

5 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Harassment charge and three assaults among cases listed for Llanelli court

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing after admitting a series of offences, including harassment and assaults.

Tony Brundrett, aged 21, of Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard Brundrett has pleaded guilty to harassment without violence, contrary to the Protection from Harassment Act. The charge alleges that between Tuesday (Sep 17) and Thursday (Oct 31) at Spring View, Pembroke Dock, he pursued a course of conduct amounting to harassment of a female, including attending her home address and contacting her by text message.

He has also admitted assault by beating against the same female, alleged to have taken place on Wednesday (May 21) at Spring View, Pembroke Dock, and a further assault by beating against a second female on Thursday (Oct 30), also at Spring View.

Magistrates were additionally told that Brundrett faces a further allegation of common assault against a third female, said to have occurred on Tuesday (Dec 9) at Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock. No plea was recorded to that matter in the register entry.

Brundrett has also pleaded guilty to a number of offences linked to an incident in Haverfordwest on Saturday (Nov 16). These include:

Aggravated vehicle taking, involving a Vauxhall Corsa, with damage caused before recovery
Using a motor vehicle without insurance
Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence
Criminal damage, involving a window belonging to Pembrokeshire County Council

He was remanded in custody, with the next hearing listed at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 31) at 10:00am.