News

Pembroke: Emergency services out in force as woman threatens to jump into Mill Pond

Published

10 years ago

January 5, 2016

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Fire service rescue boat in Pembroke on Saturday (Pic: Mike Hillen/Herald)

A FEMALE who was threatening to enter the water at the Mill Pond in Pembroke was detained by the police for her own safety on Saturday night.

Dyfed-Powys Police, Coast Guard officers and the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service rib, Rescue One, attended the incident. An ambulance was also sent to the scene.

When emergency services arrived they found the woman in a distressed state on the water’s edge.

A witness at the scene gave an unconfirmed account that the incident had been proceeded by an argument, a claim that The Herald cannot verify.

The witness added: “I think that this large emergency services response is in part due to the tragic deaths which have occurred recently at the Mill Pond. Nobody wanted to take any chances.”

The police told The Herald in a statement: “Police responded to a report of a female in need of assistance after entering Mill Pond at approximately 11.10pm on January 2.”

The spokesman added: “They attended the area and found a distressed female on the water’s edge. She was detained for her own safety.

After a thorough search of the pond was conducted by police and fire using a heat source detector and speaking to the original caller again, it was established that the correct female had been detained and that no one else had entered the water.”

In November, coroner Mark Layton raised concerns with Pembrokeshire County Council over safety at the Mill Pond.

The move came after an inquest into the death of Robert Mansfield, who drowned at the Mill Pond while celebrating his eighteenth birthday.

The inquest heard that Mr Mansfield had “a bit of an infatuation with Pembroke Mill Pond” as well as “a history of messing about in water when drunk”.

A Pembrokeshire County Council risk assessment, provided at the request of the coroner, said that there was a low risk of slips, trips and falls into the water at the Mill Pond. However signs were to be erected advising people not to swim and a life ring to be installed by the barrage.

The council’s assessment had been disputed by Robert Mansfield’s family who have been campaigning for better safety measures at the Mill Pond.

An inquest into the drowning of a 52-year-old man in Pembroke’s Mill Pond on New Year’s Day 2015 ruled his death was accidental.

At a hearing in October, deputy coroner Gareth Lewis concluded that the death of Wayne Anthony Young, of Olivers View, Pembroke on was a ‘tragic accident’.

An eye witness statement said Mr Young was seen tumbling down a bank into the Mill Pond. A concerned member of the public retrieved a life ring from The Royal George pub and threw it towards Mr Young but there was no response, the inquest heard.

The witness then entered the pond to bring Mr Young out of the water. He died on the day of his birthday.

An ambulance on stand by at the scene (Pic: M Hillen/Herald)

A big response: Rescue teams were out in force on Saturday (Pic M Hillen/Herald)

Emergency teams were responding to a call that a woman was going to jump into the Mill Pond (Pic: M Hillen/Herald)

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

12 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.

News

Man arrested after suspected drugs-related death in Haverfordwest

Published

13 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Police say death not suspicious as 46-year-old arrested over alleged Class A drug supply

A MAN has died following a medical emergency at a property in Haverfordwest, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called at 3:18pm on Wednesday (March 18) after a report of a medical incident.

A man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.

However, police confirmed that a man, aged 46, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

He has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

No further details about the deceased have been formally released.

Crime

Illegal dog breeders ordered to pay over £129,000 after council probe

Published

14 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOUR people from Mynyddygarreg, Kidwelly, have been ordered to pay more than £129,000 following a successful prosecution for illegal dog breeding.

At Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Mar 10), before His Honour Judge Thomas KC, Stacey May June Edwards, Peter John Edwards, Sian Eleri Thomas and David Malcolm James Thomas, all of Sea Breeze, Mynyddygarreg, pleaded guilty to offences under the Breeding of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2014.

The court imposed confiscation orders totalling £129,873.41 under the Proceeds of Crime Act across the four defendants. They were also ordered to pay £8,000 in costs, while each defendant received a £2,000 fine.

The investigation began in April 2021 after Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Health team received an enquiry from Peter Edwards about obtaining a dog breeding licence. Although licensing guidance was provided and a partial application was submitted in February 2022, this was later withdrawn.

In March 2024, the council received a complaint that puppies were being advertised for sale without the required licence. Officers subsequently contacted online advertising platforms and issued data requests to assess the scale of activity.

Analysis of records from Pets4Homes, Freeads and Gumtree revealed multiple litters being advertised by members of the same household.

Correspondence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act confirmed that up to 25 dogs were kept at the property, including between 16 and 19 breeding females.

While some defendants claimed joint ownership of the dogs, others attempted to minimise their involvement.

The Herald understands that numerous puppy advertisements were posted between July 2020 and April 2025, demonstrating a sustained pattern of unlicensed breeding.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “This case demonstrates the council’s firm stance against unlicensed and illegal dog breeding.

“These regulations are in place to protect animal welfare and ensure that breeding activities are subject to proper oversight. The scale of activity uncovered at this property was entirely unacceptable, and we welcome the court’s decision to issue significant confiscation orders under POCA.”

He added: “We urge anyone with concerns about illegal dog breeding to report it. Our Animal Health officers will continue to investigate thoroughly and take action against those who disregard the law.”

Residents are reminded that anyone breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect both animal welfare and consumers.