News

Milford Haven: Inquest opens into the death of tragic teen Seren

Published

11 years ago

June 1, 2015

Tom Sinclair

Tragic: Seren Bernard

A MILFORD HAVEN teenager was “willingly exposed to harm by the agencies which were involved in her case” an inquest heard on Monday (Jun 1).

Fourteen-year-old Seren Bernard was found dead near Hakin Point in April 2012.

Now up to twelve witnesses will be called, and ten days have been set aside for this contentious and highly emotional case, which is one of the most complex coroner’s inquests ever to be heard in Pembrokeshire.

Seren’s mother, Sarah Pollock, has argued that Seren should not have been in the care of the local authority.

The inquest at Milford Haven Town Hall, administered by Swansea coroner Paul Bennett, was told that she had suffered with hallucinations and that an imaginary friend had told her to ‘do things’.

Seren Bernard’s mother, Sarah Pollock, who broke down in tears at the inquest, claimed that her daughter had not received the therapy or care that she so badly needed. She told the coroner: “In my view they have willingly and knowingly exposes Seren to harm.”

But Mr Bennett said at a pre-inquest in December that the scope of the inquest was not about examining “systemic failures” of the council’s care or duplicating what had been investigated by the serious case review.

The inquest has been looking into the events from September 2011, when the teenager went missing for ten days, to when she was found dead seven months later.

The barrister representing Child Adolescent Mental Health Support, which was responsible for Seren’s therapy, said she discussed her imaginary friend Jane with her support worker on two occasions. The inquest heard how during a psychiatric assessment, Seren revealed that she suffered from suicidal thoughts present since childhood.

Ten day hearing: Milford Haven Town Hall

Seren’s aunt, Tracy Norton said that her niece had displayed strange behaviour including sleeping on the floor and attempting to pierce her lips with a school compass. She told the hearing: “Social services told me that this was normal behaviour for a 14-year-old girl.”

The council’s lawyer said that the Authority had a “difficult balancing act” because Seren did not want to live with her family or have any information to be passed on to them.

A serious case review which took place last year found Seren’s death under the care of Pembrokeshire County Council’s social services department might not have been preventable and Dyfed-Powys Police ruled out a criminal investigation.

The inquest continues.

News

Emergency services respond to incident in Haverfordwest town centre

Published

6 minutes ago

April 4, 2026

Tom Sinclair

EMERGENCY SERVICES were called to an incident in Haverfordwest town centre on Saturday morning (Apr 4), with police and ambulance crews attending near County Sports.

Pedestrians were asked to avoid part of the area while the incident was being dealt with, causing some disruption in the town centre.

A witness told The Herald they were walking towards Old Bridge when they were stopped from going through.

The witness said: “I was walking towards the Old Bridge and was told that I had to go around due to a medical emergency.”

The nature of the incident has not yet been officially confirmed.

The Herald understands the emergency response remained in place for some time as crews dealt with the situation.

We have contacted Dyfed-Powys Police for comment.

News

Teenager intervenes after bridge incident

Published

17 minutes ago

April 4, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A TEENAGER was left shaken after stepping in to help a young woman in distress on Clay Lanes bridge in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The Herald understands the 18-year-old was walking through Clay Lanes at around 4:10am when he noticed a young woman standing on the road bridge over the bypass.

Concerned that something was wrong, he approached her and tried to engage her in conversation. When she remained polite but dismissive, he walked a short distance away and called police before returning to stay nearby.

According to information passed to The Herald, officers arrived a short time later. It is understood the young woman then attempted to go over the bridge, but the teenager pulled her back to safety as police responded and called for further assistance.

His father, who contacted The Herald, said the young man had been badly shaken by the incident.

Dyfed-Powys Police has been approached for comment.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, support is available from Samaritans free of charge, 24 hours a day, on 116 123.

Image: File photo

Community

Flood Alert issued for Pembrokeshire coast as weather conditions worsen

Published

24 minutes ago

April 4, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has issued a Flood Alert for the Pembrokeshire coastfollowing rising water levels. The alert, which affects areas between St Dogmaels, Cardigan and Amroth, warns that flooding is possible in the region due to adverse weather conditions and high tides.

The alert was issued at 12:53 PM today (Apr 4), urging local residents to be prepared for potential flooding in the coming hours.

Key Advice for Residents

As the flood risk increases, NRW has shared crucial advice to help people stay safe:

Prepare a flood plan: If you have one, now is the time to follow it.
Protect valuables: Residents should move important items, such as documents and sentimental belongings, to higher ground or safer locations.
Stay alert and pack an emergency kit: Ensure your phone is charged, and pack essential items like medications, chargers, insurance documents, and warm clothing in case you need to evacuate quickly.
Check on vulnerable individuals: Ensure that children, elderly relatives, and pets are safe, with a plan for their evacuation if necessary.

Avoid Floodwater at All Costs

NRW is also stressing the importance of avoiding floodwater, as even shallow levels of water can be extremely dangerous. As little as 30 cm (1 foot) of floodwater can sweep away a car, and 15 cm (6 inches) can knock you off your feet.

Authorities are urging everyone to never walk or drive through flooded areas.

How to Stay Updated

Residents are advised to stay informed through NRW’s website, where they can track water levels and access real-time updates. The agency also recommends checking its social media accounts for the latest information.

For more detailed information or if you need assistance, call Floodline at 0345 988 1188 (quick dial number: 503013).

For More Information: