News

Badger and the political animal

Published

11 years ago

March 4, 2015

bearbadger1 WHAT A tumultuous week it has been since Badger put paw to keyboard for his last article. That nice Mr Bryn Parry Jones has been packed off to his Llangwarren stronghold, there to lend his garden and plot hideous revenge. I am sure that you will be shocked to learn, readers, that there is little doubt that Beloved Chief Bryn’s period of absence was not the result of any sudden moral impulse on the part of the Council’s IPPG leader Jamie Adams. No, leaders: Jamie is not a man given to sudden sentiment or hi-falutin’ principle when it comes to matters political and administrative. Jamie will have made his judgement on political grounds. And that, readers, as far as Badger is concerned, is nothing for which Jamie needs to be ashamed. Badger has written before about politics being the art of the possible. And it is the persistent and disturbing series of public revelations about the CEO’s conduct that has made his “period of absence” not only possible but — to Jamie — positively desirable. “Politics” has become a dirty word. It has fallen almost as low in people’s estimation as politicians themselves. How often do you hear David Cameron or Ed Milliband deride each other for “playing politics” about one or another big issue of the day? It is as though even the leaders of political parties want to deny their own political natures and the manoeuvring and complex interrelationships that brought them to positions of power. Politics, readers, is not a game. Still less does it deserve to have any pejorative unpleasantness attached to it. Politics is, at heart, the way of behaving as a member of a group or a member of society. It is related to concepts such as politeness and the way in which we all interact with each other, whether in groups or as individuals. That

readers, is all “politics” of one sort or another. When Badger sees people complaining about there being “too much politics” or sees buffoons like Nigel Farage bounce up and decry politics as being inherently and fundamentally at odds with the interests of the people (whoever he thinks they are!), Badger cringes. The problem is not that there is too much politics but that there is not enough, readers. So when Badger sees Jamie Adams being criticised for making a political decision, it rather strikes Badger that the IPPG leader is being criticised for being a fish and swimming in the sea. That is not to say Badger in any way endorses the [PPG leader, still less the !PPG members. However, within the constraints of the County Council’s political and administrative system, it was necessary for Jamie to reach a decision that would accrue political advantage to him and to his group and he did. And advantage has flowed. Those members of the MPG prone to bitching and grumbling have been shown to be paper tigers. “Prepared to wound but not to strike”, as the saying goes. Over the last week there have been rumours of wars and unrest within the IPPO. People were said to be ringing round, expressing misgivings at the group’s closeness to Bryn and the choppiness of the waters in which they were sailing. All sorts of names were swirling around as being “concerned”. Having gazed into the future the MPG membership has, however, blinked. Recent events have concentrated their minds on the end of their journey on the gravy train. Let’s say you were an IPPO member, readers. Don’t worry, it’s only pretend. Let’s say you were getting not only your allowance but also remuneration for a committee post and a nice cosy appointment to an outside body that provided prestige, payment or both.

You have it pretty cosy where you are. Not exactly money for nothing, but an income that is not dependent on skills, training or even intelligence. Imagine being an MPG Councillor like Daphne Bush, for example. Now, imagine throwing all of that to the winds on a gamble. You do not need a penetrating intellect of the type Daphne possesses to think that you are better staying inside where it is warm and cosy, instead of venturing forth into uncertainty. And that, readers, is also a political decision. Not a very laudable one, certainly; but understandable and human. Because if the ranks of the opposition had been able to present a united and credible front and some sort of hope to potential IPPG defectors that they would not be cast out into the outer darkness or mocked for being Johnny-come-latelys to the cause of virtue, then the political decision to be made by IPPG members would have been and would continue to be that much harder. Badger has quite a lot of time for Councillor Bob Kilmister, leader of the Pembrokeshire Alliance. He at least has some vision for the future. But Bob’s difficulty is that since its launch the Alliance has not attracted a single new member on the Council. Even Stephen Joseph did not join them. The sentiment is good, the message sound, the ability to deliver remains in doubt. Labour leader Paul Miller is a polarising figure, even within his own party. He shows little sign or ability of being able to form the type of coalition necessary to oust the !PPG. Distracted, perhaps, by the prospect of fighting for Parliament within the next few months, he is possibly too tightly focused on the Paul Miller Project than leading an effective opposition. The Conservatives are a negligible force, demonstrably too close to the IPPG — which is, in reality, carrying out an agenda of semi-privatisation of services

and cost cutting which would be heartily endorsed by their own national party. The fact that the group managed to vote three separate ways on one vital issue is evidence that they are less of a party than a loose gathering. There are notable individual voices on the Council, who cling to the principle that it is the duty of an opposition to hold the executive to effective account. It is tragic for Pembrokeshire that the most able of those voices are unable to cohere around a uniting set of principles and offer a real alternative for Pembrokeshire’s electors. To some of those, but by no means all, Badger suggests that high personal principle is all very well, but some low political calculation would serve Pembrokeshire better. It is into the gap the opposition have left to him that Jamie Adams and the WPC have stepped. Jamie Adams, the man whose party ostensibly was formed as a reaction to party politics, has shown that in the jungle at PCC, and in the present circumstances, he is the most political animal of all.

News

Wife and lover jailed for plot to murder husband to continue affair

Published

4 minutes ago

December 19, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A WOMAN and her lover have been jailed after conspiring to murder her husband of ten years so they could continue their affair.

Michelle Mills and Geraint Berry, both aged 46, were each sentenced to 19 years’ imprisonment at Swansea Crown Court after a jury found them guilty of plotting to kill Christopher Mills in a plan intended to make his death appear as a suicide.

The conspiracy was uncovered after Mr Mills, 55, an ex-serviceman, fought back during a late-night ambush at a caravan the couple were staying in at Cenarth, Carmarthenshire, on Friday, September 20, 2024.

Berry, assisted by Steven Thomas, forced entry into the caravan armed with imitation firearms, gas masks and cable ties. A pre-prepared suicide note falsely purporting to have been written by Mr Mills was later recovered by police.

The attack failed when Mr Mills defended himself, managing to disarm the intruders and forcing them to flee on foot.

Armed response officers, police dog units and the National Police Air Service were deployed. Berry and Thomas were arrested shortly afterwards after being spotted hiding in bushes by a police helicopter.

***Geraint Berry, during his arrest – from police video***

The incident was initially reported to Dyfed-Powys Police by Michelle Mills, who claimed to be unaware of any motive for her husband to be targeted. At first, officers treated the matter as an aggravated burglary.

However, detectives quickly became suspicious.

Detective Inspector Sam Gregory, of Ceredigion CID said: “We had a report of two masked men attempting to gain access to a caravan and assaulting the owner. On the surface, it appeared the case would be fairly straightforward.

“However, when Berry and Thomas were searched, officers found gas masks, imitation firearms and, most disturbingly, a typed suicide note said to have been written by Christopher Mills.”

The investigation was escalated to CID, where digital forensic enquiries uncovered extensive communication between Mrs Mills and Berry revealing a long-running affair and detailed plans to murder her husband.

Messages exchanged from August 2024 onwards showed the pair discussing multiple methods of killing Mr Mills, including suffocating him while he slept, overdosing him on sleeping tablets, poisoning his food with antifreeze or foxglove, and staging an explosion in his car.

Berry also contacted an associate asking how to obtain a firearm with a suppressor and how to make a vehicle explode when the ignition was started.

The court heard there were two aborted attempts to ambush Mr Mills at the caravan on August 28 and 29, with Berry injuring his knee during one failed attempt.

On the third attempt, Mrs Mills told Berry she would encourage her husband to drink alcohol so he would fall asleep. Messages showed Berry informing her he had arrived at the holiday park moments before the attackers burst into the caravan.

Immediately after the men fled, Mrs Mills sent Berry messages urging him to escape, delete communications and expressing affection, despite her husband having just been assaulted.

Mrs Mills was later arrested at her home in Maes Ty Gwyn, Llwynhendy. Despite denying involvement, she told an arresting officer she would be “going to jail for this”.

DI Gregory said: “From start to finish, Mrs Mills denied any involvement. She initially claimed she did not know the attackers, and later said she believed the messages were just fantasy.

“At no point did she attempt to stop Berry or tell him she did not want the plans to go ahead. Her only concern was not getting caught.”

Sentencing the pair, Mr Justice Nicklin said the plot involved “significant planning and premeditation”, despite being “poorly executed”, and placed Mr Mills’ life at genuine risk.

The court heard victim impact evidence describing how the attack had “pretty much ruined” Mr Mills’ life, leaving him suffering flashbacks and long-term psychological harm.

Mrs Mills was also sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment for perverting the course of justice, to be served concurrently with her 19-year sentence. Berry received a concurrent 18-month sentence for possession of an imitation firearm.

Steven Thomas, aged 47, of Clos Coffa, Clydach, was found not guilty of conspiracy to murder but had previously admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause Christopher Mills to believe unlawful violence would be used against him. He was sentenced to 12 months in custody, with time already served on remand taken into account.

The judge said there had been an element of coercion or exploitation by Berry in relation to Thomas, who expressed remorse for his actions.

DI Gregory added: “It is easy to focus on the dramatic details of this case and forget there is a real victim. Mr Mills’ life was genuinely at risk, and the person he should have been able to trust the most was behind the plot.

“He has shown remarkable strength and courage throughout this investigation, and I hope he can now move forward and begin to process what he has endured.

“Despite their claims that this was fantasy, the evidence showed the conspiracy was real, calculated and repeated. Mills and Berry showed no remorse for the devastation they caused.”

Crime

Milford Haven man denies child sex charges as trial date set

Published

2 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

A MAN originally from Milford Haven has pleaded not guilty to a series of sexual offences involving a child after recently moving to Cornwall.

James Kershaw, aged 45, formerly of Milford Haven and now living in Quethiock, Cornwall, appeared in court on Friday (Dec 19), where he denied all four sexual charges put to him.

The hearing was his first Crown Court appearance in the case, during which a trial date was fixed for October 5.

Kershaw was allowed to remain on bail under strict conditions, including that he must have no contact with any prosecution witnesses.

Kershaw appeared via video link from his solicitor’s office in Cornwall. The judge described this as “a very generous decision by the listings officer” and said it had “presumably been arranged due to the distance from you to the court”.

Allegations denied

The charges relate to alleged incidents said to have taken place in Liskeard, Cornwall, between October 26 and November 1, 2023.

Kershaw is accused of engaging in sexual communication with a child under the age of 16 and of causing a child aged 13 to watch sexual activity. He also faces two allegations of causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to engage in sexual activity of a non-penetrative nature on separate dates.

In addition, Kershaw is charged with two counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposed by Derby Crown Court in May 2022. These allegations include the use of an undisclosed Facebook account and the deletion of messages, both of which are said to be prohibited under the terms of that order.

Kershaw denies all allegations.

The court ordered that Kershaw may remain on bail pending trial, subject to conditions including a strict ban on contacting any witnesses.

The complainant’s identity is protected by law under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992.

The case is due to return to court when the trial begins in October.

Community

Craig Flannery appointed as new Chief Fire Officer

Published

12 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Tom Sinclair

MID AND WEST WALES FIRE SERVICE LEADERSHIP CHANGE

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has announced the appointment of Craig Flannery as its new Chief Fire Officer, with effect from Monday, December 15, 2025.

Mr Flannery has served with the Service for more than twenty years, progressing through a wide range of middle management and senior leadership roles across both operational and non-operational departments.

During his career, he has been closely involved in strengthening operational delivery, risk management and organisational development. His work has included leading innovation in learning and development, overseeing the Service’s On-Call Improvement Programme, and driving investment in key enabling functions such as workforce development and information and communication technology.

The appointment followed a rigorous, multi-stage recruitment process led by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority. Candidates were assessed through structured interviews, strategic leadership exercises and scenario-based assessments designed to test operational judgement, organisational vision and the ability to lead a modern fire and rescue service.

External professional assessors were also engaged to provide independent scrutiny, ensuring the process met high standards of fairness, transparency and challenge.

Mr Flannery emerged as the strongest candidate, demonstrating clear strategic leadership capability, detailed organisational knowledge and a strong commitment to community safety and service improvement.

Councillor John Davies, Chair of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “Craig brings a deep understanding of our Service and a clear vision for its future. His appointment will strengthen our ability to innovate, support our workforce and deliver high-quality protection for the communities we serve.

“As we navigate a rapidly changing landscape, Craig’s experience in driving innovation and organisational development will be invaluable in helping us adapt and transform for the future.”

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Flannery said: “It is a privilege to lead this outstanding Service. I am committed to supporting our people, strengthening partnerships and building on the strong foundations already in place.

“As the challenges facing fire and rescue services continue to evolve, we must modernise and innovate, ensuring we have the skills, technology and capability needed to meet the needs of our communities. I look forward to working with colleagues and partners across Mid and West Wales to deliver a resilient, progressive Service that keeps people safe and places our staff at the heart of everything we do.”