Crime

Welsh Conservatives renew call for grooming gangs inquiry

Published

21 seconds ago

July 16, 2026

Party leader says allegations involving children in care underline the need for a Wales-wide investigation into institutional failings

THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have renewed calls for a Wales-wide inquiry into group-based child sexual exploitation following the charging of eight people in Gwent.

Gwent Police said eight British nationals had been charged with more than 30 offences as part of an investigation into alleged group-based child sexual exploitation.

Responding to the development, Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar MS said the allegations represented a serious betrayal of children who should have been protected by the care system.

“These are horrific allegations representing an unforgivable betrayal of children who should have been protected by the care system,” he said.

“We now have reports of abuse in Gwent, Swansea, Rhyl and rural Wales. It is essential that the Welsh Government commissions a Wales-wide inquiry to ensure that no stone is left unturned in exposing the extent of these crimes.”

Mr Millar said any inquiry should examine the conduct of schools, councils, health services and other public bodies, including whether opportunities to protect vulnerable children had been missed.

He added: “We need to understand why opportunities to intervene were missed and whether institutional failings allowed abuse to continue unchecked.

“We must ensure justice for victims, hold perpetrators to account and get to grips with any systemic failings that allowed such abuse to take place.”

Peter Fox MS, the party’s Shadow Minister for Local Government and Communities, said he had been deeply shocked by the allegations, particularly reports that the alleged victims had been in care.

“Our hearts go out to the victims who have bravely come forward during this investigation,” he said.

“They have suffered so much and for too long. Justice must now prevail.”

The Welsh Conservatives have repeatedly pressed the Welsh Government to establish a national inquiry examining the scale of group-based child sexual exploitation in Wales and the response of public authorities.

The charges have not yet been tested in court. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Crime

Police searching for driver who abandoned car after Haverfordwest pursuit

Published

50 minutes ago

July 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Police are trying to identify a driver who ran from a damaged car following a pursuit into Haverfordwest.

The incident began at around 8.15pm on Tuesday, July 14, when Dyfed-Powys Police received reports of a vehicle being driven dangerously along Haven Road between Broad Haven and Haverfordwest.

Officers later found a blue Ford Fiesta which had significant damage to one of its tyres.

The driver did not stop when requested and continued towards Haverfordwest, with police following the vehicle to Jury Lane.

The car eventually came to a stop, but the driver left the vehicle and escaped on foot before officers could speak to them.

Police recovered the Fiesta at around 9.10pm.

Enquiries are now continuing to establish who was driving the vehicle and to locate them.

No further details have been released about how the car was damaged or whether anyone else was involved.

Crime

Assault and strangulation charges against man discontinued

Published

2 hours ago

July 16, 2026

Court Reporter

PROCEEDINGS against a man accused of assault and intentional strangulation in Pembroke Dock have been discontinued.

Michal Rakowski, 42, had been due to stand trial at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (July 16).

He had faced allegations of assaulting a woman and causing her actual bodily harm, and of intentionally strangling her, in Pembroke Dock on June 8.

Rakowski, who was listed as being of no fixed abode, entered not-guilty pleas to both charges on Tuesday (July 14).

The court register confirms that both proceedings have now been discontinued.

No findings were made against Rakowski and he was not convicted of either offence.

Crime

Footballer given 200 hours’ unpaid work for eye-gouging assault during match

Published

2 hours ago

July 16, 2026

Court Reporter

Magistrates heard Robert Hedley put an opposing player in a headlock before gouging at his eyes during a match in St Clears

A FOOTBALLER who put an opposing player in a headlock before jumping on his back and gouging at his eyes has been ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

Robert Hedley, 42, returned to Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (July 16) after being found guilty of assaulting Liam Morley-Trivett and causing him actual bodily harm.

The assault took place during a football match at St Clears on August 30 last year.

Following a two-day trial earlier this week, magistrates concluded that Hedley grabbed Mr Morley-Trivett in a headlock before jumping onto his back and gouging at his eyes.

The court heard that Mr Morley-Trivett suffered injuries including blurred vision following the attack.

When delivering the guilty verdict on Tuesday, the presiding magistrate said the defence had given varying versions of what had happened and where the two players had been positioned on the pitch.

The prosecution witnesses, however, were found to have given credible accounts of Hedley jumping onto Mr Morley-Trivett’s back and gouging at his eyes.

“We’re satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant caused injuries and, as a result, we find him guilty,” the magistrate said.

Hedley, of Wesley Way, Spittal, appeared for sentence after an all-options pre-sentence report had been prepared by the probation service.

A victim personal statement from Mr Morley-Trivett was read to the court by prosecutor Sian Vaughan.

Magistrates imposed a community order lasting until July 15, 2027, requiring Hedley to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £200 compensation to Mr Morley-Trivett, £650 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge.

The total financial penalty must be paid in monthly instalments of £100, beginning on August 14.

The bench considered imposing a restraining order but decided it was neither necessary nor proportionate because of the length of time since the offence and the absence of any further offending.