News

Community order for ‘unprovoked attack’

Published

10 years ago

February 5, 2015

NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD Jack Price of Pembroke appeared at Haverfordwest Magistartes’ Court on Tuesday (Jan 20) to face a charge of assault. He entered a

Haverfordwest court

guilty plea for the unprovoked attack against another man and was consequently given a 12-month community order.

The incident took place in the Royal Oak Pub in Pembroke where Price had consumed six pints of lager whilst celebrating a birthday.

The court heard how Price, who plays rugby for Tenby and Llanelli, has begun to regulate his drinking so that he does not commit further offences.

Prosecuting, Nick Newton said: “On July 19, the defendant had gone to the Royal Oak pub with friends. Whilst in the toilets there was a disagreement with the complainant in this case and his friend was anxious to defuse the situation. However the defendant then threw a punch which connected with the left side of the complainants face. The prosecution say that the defendant went to throw further punches but his friend intervened and got him in a bear hug to restrain him. They have then fallen to the floor but he kept his grip and there was no further violence. The complainant suffered a black eye and small cuts and the incident was reported to the police.

“There were a number of witnesses which say this was an unprovoked assault and that there was a degree of force in the punch which knocked the complaint back several steps. He was arrested and in his interview he told officers that he was drunk but that he knew what he was doing. He admitted throwing a punch and that he had been previously banned from the pub. Price said that he felt he was going to be the victim of assault and he responded to that.”

The Magistrates asked for a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the Probation Service. Mr Jenkins told the court: “This was an unprovoked assault which caused injury. He had been out celebrating a birthday and had drunk six pints of lager. He cannot recall the incident but he bitterly regrets that the incident did take place. He has begun to regulate his drinking and he has not been in trouble since this offence but his shame was obvious and he would also like to apologise to the victim. This was a one-off incident and I think a community order with unpaid work hours would be sufficient. He is willing to complete any order.”

The CPS also asked for an exclusion order to be issued for Price but the Magistrates did not think that was necessary. The community order will stand for 12 months and he will have to complete 80 hours of unpaid work. He will also have to pay compensation to the victim of £125. £85 in costs was also awarded and Price must also pay a £60 victim surcharge.

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

16 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

23 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

24 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.