News

Welsh Conservatives urge review of sex education after ‘choking’ lesson claims

Published

11 months ago

April 23, 2025

Concerns raised over PSHE content in Bridgend schools

THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have called for an immediate review of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) lessons in Bridgend, following reports that pupils were taught about sexual practices involving choking.

Natasha Asghar MS, the Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, has written to Labour’s Cabinet Secretary for Education, requesting urgent clarification and action. The lessons, she claims, could risk normalising “harmful, misogynistic behaviours” among young people.

Ms Asghar said she was particularly concerned about the message such lessons might send to young girls and warned of the potential influence of violent pornography on youth culture.

“This is a matter of great urgency. Schools should be places of learning, not environments where harmful behaviours are taught or normalised,” she said.

“This is an alarming indication of the cultural shift towards violent and demeaning acts towards women and young girls being perceived as acceptable. Our education system must actively counter such trends, not contribute to them.”

The Welsh Conservatives have called for Bridgend County Council to work closely with domestic abuse charities, such as Welsh Women’s Aid, and with survivors of abuse, to ensure that sex education lessons are delivered appropriately and sensitively.

“These sensitive and serious topics should be addressed with care and expertise, not reduced to PowerPoint presentations,” Ms Asghar added. She has requested a ministerial statement in the Senedd next week.

Calls for context and clarity

The Welsh Government has not yet responded to the claims. It is currently unclear which materials or lesson plans were involved, or whether the lessons were part of approved curriculum guidance.

Sex education in Wales is now taught under the new Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) framework, which became mandatory in 2022 and aims to provide age-appropriate, inclusive and factual information to pupils across all schools.

Supporters of the new framework say it aims to equip young people with knowledge about consent, respectful relationships and personal safety. Some experts argue that avoiding topics like pornography or rough sex may leave young people unprepared or misinformed.

The Herald understands that some education professionals have defended the inclusion of difficult topics—such as choking or coercive sexual behaviour—when taught responsibly and in age-appropriate ways, as a way of tackling myths, preventing harm and encouraging discussion around consent.

Bridgend County Borough Council has not commented publicly on the matter, but the issue is likely to be raised formally in the Senedd next week.

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

15 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.

News

Man arrested after suspected drugs-related death in Haverfordwest

Published

15 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Police say death not suspicious as 46-year-old arrested over alleged Class A drug supply

A MAN has died following a medical emergency at a property in Haverfordwest, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called at 3:18pm on Wednesday (March 18) after a report of a medical incident.

A man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.

However, police confirmed that a man, aged 46, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

He has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

No further details about the deceased have been formally released.

Crime

Illegal dog breeders ordered to pay over £129,000 after council probe

Published

16 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOUR people from Mynyddygarreg, Kidwelly, have been ordered to pay more than £129,000 following a successful prosecution for illegal dog breeding.

At Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Mar 10), before His Honour Judge Thomas KC, Stacey May June Edwards, Peter John Edwards, Sian Eleri Thomas and David Malcolm James Thomas, all of Sea Breeze, Mynyddygarreg, pleaded guilty to offences under the Breeding of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2014.

The court imposed confiscation orders totalling £129,873.41 under the Proceeds of Crime Act across the four defendants. They were also ordered to pay £8,000 in costs, while each defendant received a £2,000 fine.

The investigation began in April 2021 after Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Health team received an enquiry from Peter Edwards about obtaining a dog breeding licence. Although licensing guidance was provided and a partial application was submitted in February 2022, this was later withdrawn.

In March 2024, the council received a complaint that puppies were being advertised for sale without the required licence. Officers subsequently contacted online advertising platforms and issued data requests to assess the scale of activity.

Analysis of records from Pets4Homes, Freeads and Gumtree revealed multiple litters being advertised by members of the same household.

Correspondence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act confirmed that up to 25 dogs were kept at the property, including between 16 and 19 breeding females.

While some defendants claimed joint ownership of the dogs, others attempted to minimise their involvement.

The Herald understands that numerous puppy advertisements were posted between July 2020 and April 2025, demonstrating a sustained pattern of unlicensed breeding.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “This case demonstrates the council’s firm stance against unlicensed and illegal dog breeding.

“These regulations are in place to protect animal welfare and ensure that breeding activities are subject to proper oversight. The scale of activity uncovered at this property was entirely unacceptable, and we welcome the court’s decision to issue significant confiscation orders under POCA.”

He added: “We urge anyone with concerns about illegal dog breeding to report it. Our Animal Health officers will continue to investigate thoroughly and take action against those who disregard the law.”

Residents are reminded that anyone breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect both animal welfare and consumers.