News

Military aircraft activity over Welsh coast amid renewed Russian naval concerns

Published

5 months ago

July 4, 2025

RAF surveillance patterns in Irish Sea resemble response to past spy ship incidents

A ROYAL AIR FORCE aircraft has been circling over Cardigan Bay and the approaches to the Irish Sea for several hours on Friday (July 4), prompting speculation about possible military monitoring activity in the region.

The Airbus A330 MRTT, flying under the callsign HUDSN52, was tracked performing a long, looping flight path consistent with surveillance or aerial refuelling support. The pattern is similar to those seen in previous RAF responses to foreign vessels in UK-monitored waters, particularly involving Russian naval assets.

Separately, RNLI Lifeboat 17-41—ordinarily based at Holyhead Lifeboat Station—was observed heading south towards Milford Haven. While the reason for its journey is unconfirmed, the movement is considered unusual, as the vessel is not normally deployed in the area. However, there is no direct evidence at this stage that links the lifeboat’s travel to the RAF aircraft or to any ongoing military operation.

The Herald understands from a well-placed source that a Russian vessel may be operating in the Irish Sea and is being monitored. That source, who is not authorised to speak publicly, suggested aircraft and naval assets may have been deployed in response.

In a similar incident in November 2024, the Russian ship Yantar—widely suspected of being capable of interfering with subsea communications cables—was tracked near critical infrastructure between Dublin and the Isle of Man. It was shadowed and ultimately escorted away by Western naval forces. The episode raised significant alarm over vulnerabilities in the UK and Ireland’s undersea cable networks.

Russia is known to deploy vessels like Yantar and Viktor Leonov for maritime intelligence missions in the North Atlantic, often operating just outside national territorial waters. NATO and independent analysts have warned that these ships loiter near key infrastructure, possibly mapping it for future disruption in the event of conflict.

While there is currently no official confirmation of a foreign vessel operating in the Irish Sea today, the RAF aircraft’s behaviour, combined with the recent history of such encounters, has led to speculation that a shadowing or monitoring operation could be underway.

The Ministry of Defence has not issued any public comment as of Friday afternoon. The Herald will continue to track military and maritime movements in the area and encourages anyone with relevant information to email [email protected].

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.