News

Narberth: New group formed to welcome Syrian refugees

Published

9 years ago

September 5, 2016

Tom Sinclair

Mallory Carlson: From The International Organization for Migration

A TEAM has sprung into action in Narberth to help three Syrian families settle locally.

The war in Syria continues and millions of people are without homes as a result. Many have valuable skills and could be an asset in our local communities.

The Narberth team are responding to the UK government’s recent announcement that it will allow pilots of ‘Community sponsored settlement’. This is where a group of neighbours working under a charity takes full responsibility for one or more refugee families to live among them for five years.

The UK has not allowed this in the past, but Citizens UK and Citizens Cymru have been in discussion with government for years, saying that we should learn from countries like Canada where community settlement is a huge success. There people are allowed to invite in and finance named refugees who join the host community leading to full and productive integration.

West Wales refugee support organisation, Hiraeth Hope, is a member of Citizens UK and hopes to pilot community settlement for the UK and is helping to set up the Narberth group.

Narberth has a long history of creative invention, it recreated its own destiny from a dying town to a UK music and shopping top destination. Some of the old pioneers of those days have teamed up with newer arrivals to address the refugee crisis through a Narberth community solution.

The group will meet regularly to plan how to raise the money and to provide homes, meet and greet and integrate Syrian families into the town. Once their plan is approved by the Home Office and Council’s, the hosts plan to communicate remotely with possible guest families, so all sides can find out if the area and the refugees would suit each other.

“We want to ensure we find the people who will thrive in our rural small towns.” says Vicky Moller of Hiraeth Hope.

She continues: “When they arrive their new friends will meet them at the airport and settle them in their new homes. They will introduce them to everything from banks to buses, activities and jobs, and provide services from cultural transition to trauma therapy, including a year’s language teaching”.

Anyone wanting to help in any way is most welcome attend the next meeting which is at the Span building next to the car park today (Sep 5).

A good opportunity to learn more is on Thursday, September 22, when Ms. Mallory Carlson and a Syrian doctor will speak about Syrian culture and history.

Ms. Carlson, Senior Project Support – Resettlement, from The International Organization for Migration has detailed knowledge of Syria’s cultures, family life, diet, education before the war and of its impact and the refugee experience. She is employed nationally to prepare local authorities for settlement.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

59 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

1 hour ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

1 hour ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.