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Ex-Narberth Mayor admits football club theft

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A MAN who became the mayor of Narberth five times has  admitted stealing £400 from the town’s football club on Wednesday (Feb 18).

Colin David Williams, aged 73, of The Stables, Coxhill, will be sentenced next month.

His daughter, Wendy Williams, aged 50, of the same address, denied an identical charge. Her plea was accepted and she was found not guilty on the direction of a judge at Swansea crown court.

The pair were due to go on trial today but after discussions between barristers for the defence and the prosecution Colin Williams changed his plea.

His barrister, Stephen Thomas, said he was willing to admit stealing £400 in cash between October 3, 2011 and November 1, 2012, but not the £6,000 alleged by the club.

Huw Rees, prosecuting, said the amount was not important, and was, anyway, difficult to establish. What was important was the admission to theft.

“This is a case not without difficulties,” he added

Mr Thomas said Williams had indicated during interviews with the police that there would be an admission of guilt.

He asked for a probation officer to prepare a report into Williams’ background before sentence was passed.

Judge Peter Heywood said he was willing to order a report, but was surprised to find that one had already been prepared.

Mr Thomas said that had been ordered on the understanding that Williams would admit theft.

But as probation officer Julie Norman interviewed Williams he began to deny stealing anything.

The real dispute, explained Mr Thomas, was about the theft of £6,000 as alleged by the football club. That had led to the club having to disclose “all financial documents” and then to the appointment of a forensic accountant.

The outcome was, he added, an admission to the theft of £400.

Judge Heywood said there was a “huge difference” between £6,000 and £400 but, nevertheless, the offending still represented a breach of trust and he would not bind the hands of the sentencing judge by ruling that a non custodial sentence would be the eventual outcome.

Judge Heywood asked Julie Norman to update her pre-sentence report.

Williams was granted bail until March 18, when he will be sentenced and full details of the offending will be explained by the prosecution.

The stolen money related to a lottery style promotion run by Williams on behalf of the club.

After the hearing, officials of Narberth Football Club refused to comment, but not before one of them had said, “I’m very happy, I’ll tell you that.”

Last year the football club confirmed to The Herald: “Narberth AFC can confirm that they have made an official complaint to Dyfed-Powys police in relation to theft of monies from the club. They have also terminated the services of two committee members. The matter is now in the hands of the police.”

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Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

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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)

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Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

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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.

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Crime

Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm

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THREE men admit their guilt after police discover over 700 cannabis plants during a raid on a former school building in Llandysul.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at the former Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Heol Llyn Y Fran on November 15. Inside, they found 737 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms.

Armeld Troksi, 29, and Njazi Gjana, 27, both from Empire Avenue in Edmonton, London, along with Ervin Gjana, 24, from Durham Avenue in Romford, were arrested at the scene and later charged with producing cannabis.

The three men appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where they admitted their involvement in the illegal operation. Defence solicitor Joshua Scouller requested a pre-sentence report for Ervin Gjana, which was granted by Judge Geraint Walters.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 20.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Following a warrant executed at the former school on Heol Llyn Y Fran, officers discovered a significant cannabis grow containing 737 plants.

“We are grateful to the local community for their continued support and cooperation. Officers will remain in the area while the site is secured.

“Our commitment remains firm in disrupting drug production and supply networks across our force area.

“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small it may seem. Every piece of information can make a difference, and reports can easily be submitted through our website.”

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