News
Premier Inn arson: Gina Tranter enters guilty plea
THE WOMAN who set fire to the Premier Inn at Haverfordwest will not have to stand trial accused of arson with intent to endanger life.
The CPS yesterday accepted (Jul 9) Georgina Tranter’s plea of guilty to a lesser charge of arson while being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.
The change of attitude came as Tranter, of Redstone Court, Narberth, was due to go on trial at Swansea crown court.
Judge Peter Heywood said the sentencing powers of the court were already adequate.
Nicola Powell, the barrister leading the prosecution, then held talks with the police officers in the case and with a senior CPS lawyer, and later announced that Tranter’s plea to the lesser charge was acceptable.
She said no evidence would be offered to the charge of arson with intent.
Tranter, aged 26, will be sentenced on July 23 if a probation officer has had time to prepare a report into her background. If the report is not ready by then she is likely to be sentenced via a video link to Caernarfon crown court, where Judge Heywood will be sitting during the last week of July and the first in August.
Tranter will also be sentenced for taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, failing to provide a specimen for analysis and driving without insurance.
Her barrister, James Jenkins, said she had already entered pleas of guilty to those offences.
Judge Heywood told Tranter she was bound to receive a jail sentence for the arson offence, the only question was how long it would be for.
He said the arson offence was serious but he thought it was a pity that Tranter’s plea of guilty to the lesser charge had not been accepted earlier.
Tranter, a chemistry graduate, continues to be held at Eastwood Park women’s prison near Bristol, where she has been since January.
An earlier court hearing was told that on January 17 Tranter had attended the Hunt Ball with her boyfriend and a friend. While there she had got drunk and snorted a gram of what she believed to be cocaine.
After the ball the couple went back to the Premier Inn where she was locked her out of her room. The hotel receptionist eventually called the police who drove Tranter to her mother’s address in Narberth.
They assumed that she would stay there; however, she then took the keys to her mother’s Peugeot and drove back to the Premier Inn.
More than 100 guests were evacuated from the hotel at around 6.30am on a Sunday morning after a fire on the exterior of a fire door was extinguished by a resident.
Community
Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity
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
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
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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Paul
July 9, 2015 at 4:54 pm
Gina Tranter, Tina Tranter or Georgina Tranter? Which is it?
Frank
July 10, 2015 at 6:31 am
@ Paul:
Read the article ..
“Georgina Tranter’s plea of guilty to a lesser charge of arson”
John
July 20, 2015 at 3:12 am
She deserves a decent stretch. Stupid girl.
Adam John
July 21, 2015 at 10:31 am
She’s going to get some lez action inside.