News

Saundersfoot: Owner of fouling dog owned by mystery man with camera

Published

11 years ago

October 25, 2015

Tom Sinclair

Mystery dog owner: You have no idea who you are talking to (Pic: YouTube)

A MEMBER of the public has uploaded a video to YouTube of himself criticising a dog owner for not picking up dog mess.

The video has started to go viral around Pembrokeshire on Facebook.

In the film the mystery uploader, who calls himself The Leveller, says: “This gentleman’s dog has done a poo, and I have asked him to pick it up, and he is quite reluctant, he wants to argue. I am just going to stand here and wait for him do it.”

He adds: “You have a public responsibility, and it is law now, you have got to pick it up.”

The reaction of the man with the dog has become a subject of debate on Facebook with many people saying they are angry at his attitude, “You have no idea who you are talking to” he says.

‘IT WAS A SET UP’, SAYS DOG OWNER

The Herald tracked down the dog owner. His name is Toby Olford.

Mr Olford told the Herald: “I was walking my dog on the beach, when I walked passed a man metal detecting. He stopped me and asked if the dog was mine. When I told him the dog was, he said he had just seen it fouling and marched me 50yds up the beach to point it out.

“I found this very strange as I had just picked up my dog’s poo 5 minutes earlier and you can see in the video that I was carrying bags for this use.”

Mr Olford went on to explain that this was the point the filming began but he couldn’t really understand why.

He feels that he was set up but confirmed that he does not know the filmmaker.

After the filming started, Mr Oldfield said he felt intimidated into ‘picking up dog mess that did not belong to his dog by a very confrontational person’ and claims that the video has been heavily edited of the foul language that the filmmaker used, he also told the Herald that the conversation on film lasted around 3 minutes.

Mr Olford added: “I said in the video, ‘You don’t know who I am’ – I did not mean this in an arrogant way, and I do not think for one minute that I am above the law, the reason I said this is due to the fact that my family and I have very strong connections with this beach and it means a lot to us and our livelihood, the people who know me know I would not let this happen.”

Mr Olford’s father told our reporter that he and his family are “often cleaning up dog poo from the beach” and also a huge amount of horse poo so for his son to let his own dog do this would go against their beliefs in keeping the beach in prime condition.

The family are very disappointed to have been “painted in a bad light” and do not wish to start a war with the filmmaker, all they are interested in, hey say, is airing their side of the story without inflaming the matter any further.

The Herald understands that the family own the beach from the mean high-water line to the beach head.

Related Topics:

Up Next

St Davids: Britain’s first insect restaurant will be in Pembrokeshire

Don't Miss

Eglwyswrw: CCTV captures elderly motorist’s dare-devil driving

24 Comments

Welshman23

October 25, 2015 at 5:13 pm

Spot on who the hell is the person with the dog, he seems to think he is above the law
John

October 26, 2015 at 5:18 am

Has he been in X factor??
pinkcat

October 26, 2015 at 7:28 am

The amount of people not clearing up after their dogs is unbelievable. I have been to saundersfoot Coppice Hall side many time and witnessed dog owners letting their dogs foul in the stream area whilst little children are paddling. Absolutely disgusting. Don’t they realise that some poor kid is going to pick up the dog poo as it is amongst the sand. Dog poo can cause blindness, this matter should not be taken lightly.
Em mizsei

October 26, 2015 at 9:43 am

Who is he?!
PooFighters

October 26, 2015 at 10:50 am

Is he Ronnie Pickering?
barbara

October 26, 2015 at 12:13 pm

shame on him i dont give a monkeys who he is pick up the pooo you muppet,well done for pulling him up on this, if i see anyone walking away i always offer them a bag to pick it up
OMG

October 26, 2015 at 2:14 pm

How do we know he wasn’t going to pick it up? Sorry just an patronising idiot with a camera!
JP

October 26, 2015 at 4:05 pm

@ OMG:
Because he didnt have any bags with him to pick it up, he had to have the bags off the ‘patronising idiot’ with a camera??
Www

October 26, 2015 at 4:28 pm

@ JP:
He did have his own bags tho, the man just offered some. He used his own bags
Elina

October 26, 2015 at 4:55 pm

Hello, just to clear this up a bit. I am the girl in the video. I don‘t know how we got pulled into this mess, but this is not the whole video.
That day we were heading to the beach to walk the dog and our dog had done hiss business, which we cleaned up maybe 5-10 minutes before we stumbled upon this man with a metal detector. Our dog was just enjoying his run on the beach as we were keeping an eye on him. And then this man comes up to us saying that he‘s seen our dog making a mess just now, as we were passing by with the dog. So we argued, that it wasn‘t our dogs mess, but he was certain he‘d seen it (while metal detecting). We gave in for the sake of the argument and because it in fact IS in our interest to keep the beach clean. So that‘s the reason for being reluctant.
And then to our surprise he takes out his phone and starts filming us. That is certainly not the kind of reaction one would expect after trying to settle an argument. But we thought that he was just a bit strange and laughed it off. We didn‘t expect AT ALL, that it would turn out like this. We did have our own poo bags. And this man is just accusing us for nothing, he was metal detecting and looking at the ground with his German sheppard just a few feet away.
I am all for cleaning after your own pet, it‘s just that there was no need at all for him to get so agressive with us.
JP

October 26, 2015 at 5:55 pm

@ Www:
The lady in the video takes a bag off him and picks the poo up when he says ‘you’ve missed a bit’@ Www:
JP

October 26, 2015 at 5:57 pm

@ Elina:
The real question that everyone is wondering is, who is he??
Famous footballer? Film star? Lord mayor of Saundersfoot?
Mag

October 26, 2015 at 6:26 pm

@ Elina:
I’m dying to know Elina, who is he because he didn’t seem to know who he was?
Kieran

October 26, 2015 at 6:29 pm

@ Elina:

SO AS YOUR MALE SAYS DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM
WELL FOLKS ON HERE WANT TO KNOW
WHO IS HE
Bryn

October 26, 2015 at 7:07 pm

I know this gentleman and I can assure everyone if it was his dog he would clean it up he carries doggy poo bags wherever he goes he is the most responsible dog owners I know. People want to see the mess humans leave behind on the beach in the summer months and the stones and rocks that metal detector users dig up and leave for people to trip over or children stub toes or cut feet on or even the holes they leave I have twisted my ankle a couple of times in but no body worries about that.
Sam

October 26, 2015 at 7:26 pm

Was he Ronnie Pickering??
OMG

October 26, 2015 at 7:30 pm

@ JP:
If you look he has a bag in hands at the start of the video. The fact is we don’t know the full story from watching a short video clip. “When it comes to privacy and accountability, people always demand the former for themselves and the latter for everyone else.” – David Brin
elaine Ashby

October 26, 2015 at 9:54 pm

@ Elina:
Why did he keep saying you dont know who you are speaking to? Who is he anyway? Perhaps you should respond with this explanation on Facebook. The guy with the camera was pretty determined. And put you on you tube. And now all over Facebook. Not fair if he was in the wrong.
John

October 26, 2015 at 10:07 pm

Well done, it like baby poop, no one likes dealing with someone else’s child’s mess….

I could see you were doing the right thing – most people do, but I just loved the ‘don’t you know who I am’ type comment because frankly, no I don’t (should I?) and moreover it shouldn’t make any difference….
TenbyLifeboater

October 26, 2015 at 10:11 pm

I was actually on the beach when all this happened, and the video is a bit of a distortion of the actual facts I believe.
In fact, there was an Alsatian n the beach at the same time who i saw poo on the sand, around the same spot where it has been dug up, and the fog was unattended.
I think this couple have been portrayed in a bad light, and there is the potential that the person who filmed this video may have even asked this couple to clean up his OWN dog’s mess, without him realising it. I’d be more than happy to have this published for the record as a witness to the facts.
It’s so frustrating nowadays when you only get half truths.
Elina

October 27, 2015 at 8:35 pm

@ TenbyLifeboater:
Thank You so much for Your support.
James Henry

October 27, 2015 at 11:33 pm

i quite often see this metal detector chap having a cheeky wee on the beach particularly in the winter, should he then take his mess home?
Theres some strange folk about 😉
Helen Carp

October 29, 2015 at 5:46 pm

@ Elina:
people money big money rom these videos especially when they go viral as this one did. i expect he is laughing all the way to the bank. it’s a shame people get sucked in.
Helen Carp

October 29, 2015 at 5:47 pm

@ Elina:
people make money big money rom these videos especially when they go viral as this one did. i expect he is laughing all the way to the bank. it’s a shame people get sucked in.@ Elina:

Local Government

Mayor and deputy mayor appointed in Milford Haven

Published

1 day ago

May 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN TOWN COUNCIL has congratulated Cllr Mark Woodward after he was inaugurated as the town’s new Mayor and First Citizen.

Cllr Woodward was formally appointed on Monday evening, with Cllr Kathy Gray confirmed as Deputy Mayor.

Following the ceremony, Cllr Woodward said it was a “true honour and privilege” to take on the role, adding that it was something he had “never in my wildest dreams imagined would happen to me.”

He thanked his fellow councillors for their trust, as well as residents who had sent messages of congratulations.

Cllr Woodward also paid tribute to his wife Eva, who now becomes Mayoress, saying her support had helped make the moment possible.

He said: “I promise I will do my absolute best and fight hard and passionately for my beloved adopted town.”

With Cllr Gray serving as Deputy Mayor, Cllr Woodward added that residents could “rest assured it will not be a quiet year.”

Local Government

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park chief to be honoured by Gorsedd Cymru

Published

1 day ago

May 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PARK CHIEF RECOGNISED

PEMBROKESHIRE Coast National Park Authority Chief Executive Tegryn Jones is to be honoured by Gorsedd Cymru at this year’s National Eisteddfod.

Mr Jones has been named among those who will be admitted to the Gorsedd in recognition of their achievements and contribution to Wales, the Welsh language and local communities.

He will be admitted in the Blue robes, which are awarded to people who have given distinguished service in areas including public life, local and national activity, journalism, media, sport, science and law.

Originally from Lampeter and a fluent Welsh speaker, Mr Jones has played a prominent role in Welsh public life through a career spanning environmental, educational and community leadership.

Before joining Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, he served as Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy and also worked for the General Teaching Council for Wales.

He was nominated for his work in education, youth work and the environment, as well as for developing environmental initiatives at both local and national level.

In Pembrokeshire, he is also closely associated with the development of Welsh-medium education through his long-standing involvement with Ysgol Caer Elen in Haverfordwest, where he was the first Chair of Governors.

Mr Jones said: “It is a great honour to be recognised by Gorsedd Cymru, particularly in a year when the National Eisteddfod returns to Pembrokeshire for Eisteddfod y Garreg Las.

“The Welsh language belongs to all our communities, and I have been very fortunate to work with so many people who care deeply about its future, whether through education, culture, the environment or public service.

“The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is one of the jewels of Wales and provides an outstanding landscape that contributes to the environmental, social and economic goals that are essential to Wales’ future.

“I am very fortunate to lead the National Park Authority and extremely proud that this work has been recognised by the Gorsedd.”

This year’s National Eisteddfod, Eisteddfod y Garreg Las, will be held in Llantwd, North Pembrokeshire, from August 1-8, 2026.

The event will be especially significant as it marks 850 years since the first recorded Eisteddfod was held in Cardigan in 1176, just across the river from this year’s Maes.

News

New RSPCA poll shows opposition to badger culling in Wales

Published

1 day ago

May 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR CULLING ‘NOT THERE’, CHARITY SAYS

NEW polling from RSPCA Cymru suggests there is no clear public support in Wales for badger culling as a way of tackling bovine TB.

The charity says the new Welsh Government must “listen to people’s love of wildlife” after a survey found that just over a quarter of people in Wales actively support the culling of badgers.

The polling, released today (May 13), comes as 96 Members of the Senedd prepare to take their seats in the newly-expanded Welsh Parliament, with bovine TB expected to become one of the major animal welfare and farming issues facing the next administration.

RSPCA Cymru said only 27% of those surveyed supported badger culling, while 46% were opposed. A further 28% said they did not know.

The charity is calling on Plaid Cymru, which is seeking to form a minority government following the appointment of Rhun ap Iorwerth MS as First Minister, and on MSs from all parties, to reject culling and focus instead on what it describes as a science-led, cattle-focused approach.

The survey of 1,033 adults in Wales found that 63% of respondents were uncomfortable with badger culling being carried out using lethal methods approved by government authorities.

More than two-thirds, 68%, said they were uncomfortable with public money being used to fund the culling of badgers.

The polling also suggested that the issue could affect political support. More than half of those surveyed, 52%, said they would be less likely to support a political party that backed badger culling, while only 7% said they would be more likely to do so.

RSPCA Cymru said the figures showed that badger culling was “unsupported by a clear majority” of the Welsh public.

Billie-Jade Thomas, senior public affairs manager for RSPCA Cymru, said: “How the new Welsh Government approaches bovine TB will be one of the biggest talking points concerning animals in Wales in the coming years.

“This polling should remind all newly-elected Senedd Members that the Welsh public cares about how badgers are treated, and politicians must listen to people’s love of wildlife.

“There is a clear lack of public support for badger culling in Wales, and those supporting such action could see their support wane among their constituents.”

She added: “Wildlife control and badgers were featured in several parties’ Senedd manifestos, including Plaid Cymru, Wales’ new biggest party.

“We now hope MSs from all political groups recognise that badger culling is unsupported by a clear majority of the Welsh public, and they should instead prioritise a science-led, cattle-focused approach to combatting bovine TB.”

The polling also found that almost 98% of people in Wales consider protecting Welsh wildlife to be important, with 69% saying it is very important.

Badgers were among the most popular species named in the survey, with 73% of respondents choosing them as one of the species they were most concerned about when asked to select their top three.

RSPCA Cymru said badgers remain one of Britain’s most distinctive and misunderstood wild mammals.

Ms Thomas said: “Badgers are such wonderful creatures and, like all wildlife, deserve to be treated with kindness and respect.

“A growing body of evidence suggests that the majority of bovine TB infection occurs between cattle, with scientific evidence suggesting that badger culling is not an effective way to reduce the disease in cattle.

“The new administration must always tackle bTB in a way which does not needlessly pose a threat to one of our most distinctive, well-loved yet misunderstood species of wildlife.”

RSPCA Cymru’s manifesto for the seventh Senedd, Securing A Better Future For Animal Welfare in Wales, calls for badger culling to be rejected, describing it as ineffective and inhumane.

The poll was carried out online by Savanta between April 24 and May 12, 2026. Figures were weighted to be representative of adults in Wales.