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Crime

Renewed appeal to identify man found in Claerwen Reservoir

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Police mark one year since discovery in remote Elan Valley

POLICE have issued a renewed appeal for information one year after the body of an unidentified man was discovered in Claerwen Reservoir, Powys.

Despite a year of detailed enquiries, Dyfed-Powys Police has so far been unable to confirm who the man was, where he came from, or how he died.

The case will feature on BBC Crimewatch Live on Friday (Oct 24) at 10:45am on BBC One, as detectives make a fresh nationwide appeal for information.

Detective Inspector Anthea Ponting

Detective Inspector Anthea Ponting, who is leading the investigation, said: “This is a highly unusual situation. A year after a person has been found deceased, we have not been able to positively identify them.

“We have followed a number of lines of enquiry, but we are no closer to finding out who this man is, where he came from, or how he came to lose his life.

“This is someone’s son, possibly someone’s partner, brother or father, and we would like to be able to return them to any family or loved ones who might be missing them.

“Any information you have could be key in finding out who they are.”

Emergency services were called just before 8:30am on October 18, 2024, after a walker reported seeing a body in the water in a remote part of the reservoir.

A post-mortem examination found the man was aged between thirty and sixty, around six feet tall, and may have been in the water for up to twelve weeks.

He was wearing an extra-large Zone 3 Agile wetsuit, suggesting a build of around six feet to six feet five inches tall and a weight of between 202 and 220 pounds, with a chest size of forty-four to forty-eight inches. No other personal items, jewellery or identification were recovered nearby.

DI Ponting added: “There were no vehicles, bikes or other modes of transport in the area that might have indicated how he got there, or helped us establish a route of travel.”

Over the past year, officers have compared the man’s description with missing-person reports across the UK, liaised with international police forces, and checked fingerprint and DNA databases. All efforts have so far proved unsuccessful.

“There must be someone out there who is missing this person,” DI Ponting said. “If you think you can help us identify him, please get in touch.”

Anyone who visited Claerwen Reservoir between July and October 18, 2024, and may have seen something relevant — or who recognises someone matching the description — is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police:

Online: dyfed-powys.police.uk/contact
Email: [email protected]
Call: 101

 

Crime

Pembrokeshire hairdresser avoids prison after pub assault

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When a Fishguard mobile hairdresser was branded a chav in her local pub, she took umbrage by throwing a glass of gin at the woman who had spoken the words.

But this week Haverfordwest magistrates heard that when the glass shattered into the victim’s face, the woman sustained lacerations to her neck and chin.

Appearing before the Bench was 43-year-old Donna Thomas of White Lodge, Dyffryn, Goodwick,  who pleaded guilty to assaulting Hannah Llewellyn, causing her actual bodily harm.

The court was told that Thomas arrived at The Royal Oak pub in Fishguard, at around 8pm on October 18, accompanied by her husband. Approximately an hour later, Hannah Llewellyn arrived.

“The defendant began speaking to the victim and an argument broke out,” said Crown Prosecutor Dennis Davies.

“The defendant hit the victim to her face with a glass which smashed against her face, neck and skin, causing lacerations.”

Photographs of the lacerations were shown to the Bench.

But the probation service stressed that the assault had been prompted by a derogatory remark made to the defendant by Hannah Llewellyn.

“The defendant had had two drinks earlier that evening, she drank two more at the pub prior to the incident, and was tipsy but was aware of what was happening around her,” commented the probation officer.

 “She went over to the table where the victim was sitting, her husband introduced her to the victim who he’d known since his school days, and they began discussing land on friendly terms.  But the victim then laughed at the defendant’s  job, which is a self-employed mobile hairdresser, and called her a chav. 

“Without thinking, Donna Thomas went to throw the drink over the victim’s face but she knocked the glass.  She didn’t intend to hurt her physically, but just wanted to throw the drink.”

Thomas was sentenced to 18 weeks in custody suspended for 18 months.  During this time she must carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work.  She was ordered to pay £750 compensation to Hannah Llewellyn, a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.

 

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Crime

Farm worker overturns Mercedes when over drink-drive limit

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A Pembrokeshire farm worker has  lost his licence after overturning his Mercedes when he was over the drink-drive limit.

This week Haverfordwest magistrates were told that at around 3.40pm on January 10, police received reports that a black Mercedes had been involved in a single vehicle road collision on the A487 at Roch.

When officers arrived, they discovered the overturned Mercedes with its driver, Richard James, 45, trapped in the driving seat.

At around 5 pm James was arrested and transported to Withybush hospital where blood samples were carried out.  These gave a reading of 112 mcg of alcohol, the legal limit being 80.

James, of Bryn Seion, Solva, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and was represented in court by solicitor Jess Hill who informed magistrates that the defendant had collected items for work on the afternoon in question.

“He’d consumed alcohol the night before and had also taken some prescribed medication,” she said.  “He believed he would be safe to drive the following day, but obviously this wasn’t the case.”

Jess Hill added that James is expecting to lose his employment as a farm worker, as the mandatory driving ban will prevent him from driving the vehicles involved with his work.

James was disqualified from driving for 14 months and ordered to pay a £346 fine, a £138 court surcharge and £85 costs.

 

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Crime

Pembrokeshire man charged with making hundreds of indecent images of children

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A PEMBROKESHIRE man has appeared before magistrates charged with making hundreds of indecent images of children.

David Lewis, 42, is accused of making 261 of the most serious category A images of a child together with 71 category B images and 51 category C images of a child.  The offences are alleged to have been committed between March 19, 2025 and August 6, 2025.

He is further accused of distributing one indecent category A image of a child at an undisclosed location in Llanteg, Narberth, on July 27, 2025.

This week Lewis – formerly of Ashdale Lane, Pembroke but now residing at Hoopers Guest House in Swansea – appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates where he submitted no pleas to all four charges.

Crown Prosecutor Dennis Davies told magistrates that a total of 81,000 images and videos are currently being investigated in respect of the defendant, with the result that the police enquiry is not yet complete.

 “A lot of these photographs are of babies, with the result that their severity is not suitable for the magistrates court,” Dennis Davies told the Haverfordwest Bench.

As a result of the Crown’s comments, magistrates declined jurisdiction and the matter will now be dealt with by Swansea Crown Court, commencing on May 29.  Lewis was released on unconditional bail.

 

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