News

Jail for Eddie’s toilet attack

Published

9 years ago

February 2, 2016

AFTER being found guilty of two assaults the day previously, Charlotte Whelton appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (Jan 19) for sentencing.

Ellie Morgan, prosecuting, told the court that a 17-year-old girl and her sister were in the toilets of Eddie’s Nightclub with their friends on September 12 when they were assaulted by 27-yearold Whelton from Leven Close in Hook.

On the night, Whelton had barged into the complainant’s friend in the toilets and the 17-year-old victim said, “Please don’t push, say excuse me.”

“The defendant took umbrage with this and grabbed the young girl by the throat and pushed her into the wall,” said Ms Morgan.

The older sister tried to get Whelton off the young complainant, but the defendant did not let go of her younger sister’s throat.

The defendant beat off the older victim, who was shouting “Stop, let her go, she’s got asthma” repeatedly, leaving her arms covered in bruises.

Whelton also grabbed at the older victims hair, pulling her forward, but she stayed on her feet.

The younger complainant was described as going purple and red in the face by the older sister and their friends.

When Whelton finally let go of the younger girl’s throat, she slid down the wall.

One of the friends said that the complainant’s eyes rolled into the back of her head. She had lost consciousness.

The victim came around to see bouncers, the police and paramedics, while the defendant was pursued by bouncers.

At her trial on Monday (Jan 18), Whelton denied assaulting both of the girls, but she was found guilty by Magistrates.

Julie Norman of the probation service suggested that Magistrates should sentence Whelton to a high level community order.

She said that Whelton troubles the court very little and explained that the defendant maintains her not guilty plea and denies causing any injury.

Ms Norman told the court that Whelton lives alone as a single parent to two young children.

Mark Layton, defending Whelton, said that he believed that his client should be issued a suspended sentence instead of a community order due to the seriousness of the crime, commenting that it crosses the custody threshold.

“My client is clearly disappointed to be found guilty, but she accepts the courts findings and bears no animosity towards the complainants. We will not be appealing,” said Mr Layton.

Magistrates said that they were looking upon the offence very seriously and sentenced Whelton to an immediate 12 weeks in prison.

She will have to pay £620 in prosecution costs and an £80 victim surcharge. The younger complainant was awarded compensation of £150 and the older victim was awarded £50.

Mr Layton told the court that he and his client would be appealing the sentence and asked for bail pending the appeal.

He said that he was appealing the case due to the rights of Whelton’s children and commented that sending a single mother to prison should be a “last resort.”

Magistrates granted unconditional bail pending Mr Layton’s appeal.

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

2 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

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

Published

10 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

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

Published

10 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

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.