News

Grooming gangs inquiry must include Wales, say Conservatives

Published

6 months ago

June 16, 2025

Welsh Tory leader urges full cooperation as UK Government launches statutory review

A FULL statutory inquiry into grooming gangs operating across England and Wales has been announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, following a new report by Baroness Casey into historic abuse and institutional failings.

The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, is expected to make a statement in the House of Commons this week outlining the scope of the inquiry, which will investigate the systemic failures that allowed grooming gangs to operate for years without proper intervention from police, local authorities, or social services.

Welcoming the announcement, Welsh Conservative Leader Darren Millar MS said: “While this inquiry is welcome, it is long overdue.

“Every month of delay in getting to this position has caused even more hurt to those brave victims who have spoken out about their harrowing experiences and campaigned for justice.

“When I raised the need for an inquiry in the Senedd back in January, other politicians tried to shut me down, but it made me all the more determined to fight for the vulnerable victims of these crimes.”

Mr Millar stressed that Wales must not be overlooked.

“Wales must not be an afterthought in this inquiry. It is essential that it looks in detail at the extent to which grooming gangs have been operating here, listens to victims, and that perpetrators are brought to justice.

“The Welsh Government, local authorities, the police and other stakeholders must cooperate fully with the inquiry and no stone should be left unturned in seeking the truth.”

Cross-party concern

While the announcement has been broadly welcomed across political lines, some Senedd Members have called for the inquiry to ensure its findings are used to improve safeguarding frameworks, not just deliver justice retrospectively.

A spokesperson for Plaid Cymru told The Herald: “Protecting children must be at the heart of this. We must ensure that frontline services in Wales are properly resourced and trained to spot the warning signs and intervene early. Political point-scoring on this issue risks undermining the confidence of survivors.”

Victim voices and community fears

Survivor groups have also welcomed the inquiry but warned that victims in Wales must not be forgotten. One group told The Herald they had received disclosures from individuals in North Wales and South Wales who felt unsupported or silenced.

There are also concerns from some community leaders that public messaging must avoid inflaming racial or religious tensions. In past cases in England, investigations revealed that some authorities hesitated to act for fear of being seen as racist—something Baroness Casey’s report condemned as a failure of duty.

A Welsh safeguarding expert told The Herald: “Abuse happens across all communities. While the inquiry must investigate failures wherever they occurred, we must also ensure it does not contribute to the stigmatisation of minority groups. The focus must remain on institutional accountability and the protection of children.”

The Welsh Conservatives have long called for a Wales-specific inquiry, particularly in the absence of earlier UK-wide action. Baroness Casey’s latest report is expected to be a key piece of evidence underpinning the new statutory investigation.

The Prime Minister has said the inquiry will have “full powers” to compel witnesses and demand documents, and that victims will be placed “at the centre” of its work.

Photo caption:
Justice call: Darren Millar MS says grooming victims in Wales must not be forgotten (Pic: Welsh Conservatives)

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

9 hours 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

10 hours 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

10 hours 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.