Crime

Former teacher found guilty of assaulting teenager days before he died in accident

Published

1 year ago

October 8, 2024

FORMER Ysgol Dyffryn teacher, Llyr James, has been found guilty of assaulting 16-year-old Llyr Davies in an incident in Newcastle Emlyn town centre.

Three days after the attack – on the afternoon of 12 March – Llyr died in a separate incident when a tipper truck reportedly slipped down a slope into the Eastern River Cleddau in the Efailwen area of Clynderwen.

This week, Llanelli magistrates heard how the teacher ‘grabbed’ the child and ‘pushed him into an alleyway’ in Newcastle Emlyn on the night of 9 March.

Giving evidence, James said he wanted to explain his frustration that Llyr Davies, a talented rugby player, was going to miss an opportunity to play rugby at the Principality Stadium due to his poor attendance at both school and rugby training.

However, James stated that there had been no argument between him and the student.

“It was a case of two people who were close, just mucking about,” he said.

However, Crown Prosecutor James Ashton said James’ memory could have been unclear, as, according to his police statement, he had consumed eight or nine pints of cider that night.

Mr Ashton added that James made ‘a beeline’ for Llyr and there was no banter between them.

A 17-year-old witness, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he heard screaming on the street and saw Llyr being dragged by Mr James, whom he described as “crazy”, with his “eyes popping out of his head.”

Three days later, Llyr Davies died in a separate incident.

The first time the defendant heard of the assault allegation was the day after Llyr Davies’ death.

James was suspended from his job at Ysgol Bro Teifi on the Friday of the same week.

He will be sentenced by Llanelli magistrates on October 25.

Crime

Former Wales rugby star admits Christmas Day drink-driving offence

Published

3 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Ex-Ospreys captain was almost twice over limit in Pembroke town centre

Former Wales back row Jonathan Thomas has admitted driving through Pembroke town centre on Christmas Day when he was almost twice over the drink-drive limit.

This week Haverfordwest magistrates heard that Thomas, 43, was stopped by officers as he drove his Mercedes CLA 220 along The Green, Pembroke, at around 5pm on Christmas Day.

“The officers were very concerned at the manner of his driving, as the car was being driven erratically and was swerving to the other side of the road,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan.

“When Jonathan Thomas got out of the car, the officers could see that he was having difficulty standing and was unsteady on his feet.”

Subsequent breathalyser tests showed Thomas had 62 mcg of alcohol in his system, the legal limit being 35.

Thomas, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the drink-drive charge and was represented in court by solicitor Jess Hill.

“He has family in the area and had travelled to spend time with them on Christmas Day,” she told the magistrates. “He’s very remorseful for his actions and hugely regrets his decision that day.”

Jess Hill concluded by saying that Thomas is currently “between jobs and living off his savings”.

Thomas, who gave his address as Main Road, Bredon, was disqualified from driving for a total of 18 months.

“The length of your disqualification reflects the fact that you were more than a little bit over the limit,” commented the presiding magistrates when imposing sentence.

He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 court surcharge.

The former Wales back row left his role as Swansea RFC head coach at the beginning of December 2025 as a result of ongoing health concerns. He was forced to retire from playing in 2015 on medical advice after being diagnosed with epilepsy and is one of the 390 former rugby union players currently taking part in a concussion lawsuit against the sport’s authorities.

“Long-standing issues linked to the head trauma have caused me some concern recently and it has been impossible for me to give the role everything it needs,” he said in a previous interview with the BBC.

His rugby career started out with Pembroke RFC juniors before moving to Swansea RFC, which he captained when he was 19. He then joined the Ospreys where, over a ten-year period, he won four league titles and an Anglo-Welsh Cup. He was the youngest player to captain the Ospreys and, at the time of leaving, was the joint highest appearance holder, together with Andrew Bishop, on 188 appearances.

His international career saw him play for Wales at Under-16, Youth, Under-19, Under-21 and Sevens levels. He made his senior international debut against Australia in 2003, featured at the 2007 Rugby World Cup and was part of two Six Nations Grand Slam-winning sides in 2005 and 2008. Between 2004 and 2011, Thomas was included in every Wales Six Nations squad. In his appearances for Wales, he scored seven tries.

Crime

Drink-driver narrowly avoided collision in town centre

Published

3 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Motorist almost three times over legal limit

A DRINK-driver narrowly avoided crashing into another vehicle while almost three times over the legal alcohol limit, a court has heard.

Nathan Lloyd, 33, was seen driving a Nissan X-Trail in Haverfordwest in the early hours of December 20 without headlights.

Police followed the vehicle, which narrowly missed a car and struck a kerb before being stopped.

Lloyd, of Adams Drive, Narberth, recorded a breath reading of 97 micrograms of alcohol, nearly three times the legal limit.

He was disqualified from driving for two years and given a 12-month community order requiring 80 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation days. He was ordered to pay £114 surcharge and £85 costs.