News

10-year-old Megan seeks life-changing surgery

Published

9 years ago

November 4, 2016

MEGAN, a 10-year-old girl from Pembrokeshire, is currently awaiting life-changing surgery in Philadelphia following her diagnosis with scoliosis at just six-years-old.

Over the past year, Megan’s spine curvature has increased from a 50 degree curve to 62 degrees, a significant curvature for a 10-year-old that will require spine straightening surgery.

Megan is currently wearing a Boston Brace 23 hours a day.

“She hates it; it’s a constant battle to get her to wear it,” said Megan’s mum, Laura.

“But we try in desperation that it will hold her curve until she stops growing,” she continued.

If Megan’s curve progresses, growth rods may have to be inserted into her spine. These rods will have to be extended every six months until she has stopped growing.

When she has stopped growing, Megan will have to have her spine fused; this will result in her losing a lot of her flexibility.

Megan would also be unable to continue gymnastics, a sport that she loves.

However, Megan’s consultants aren’t sure that her brace will hold her curve through a growth spurt.

Laura has now discovered a life-changing surgery called VBT (Vertebral Body Tethering) that has been producing some amazing results.

This fairly new surgery is best performed on younger patients whilst their skeleton is immature and their curvature is less than 70 degrees.

The surgery will mean that Megan would maintain her flexibility and avoid further surgeries in the future. VBT also offers a quicker recovery time and a better quality of life.

Up until recently, VBT was offered in the UK as part of the NHS; however, it has now been cancelled. Megan’s only option now is to seek surgery abroad.

Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia is currently offering VBT to international patients that fit the criteria.

Providing Megan fits the criteria, her mother would like her to travel to Philadelphia for the treatment.

“Providing Megan is a candidate, it would be amazing, but we have to get her there and be able to stay in Philadelphia for possibly six weeks and then be able to return if there are any issues and for follow ups every year,” said Laura

The cost of the trip and medical expenditures is quite a lot and unfortunately, as Laura has two other children, this is more than she can afford.

Laura has now started a GoFundMe page (www.gofundme.com/megans-vbt-surgery) with the hope of raising the £20,000 needed.

Any excess money raised will be donated to Shriners Hospital and other GoFundMe pages with children in a similar position as Megan.

Laura now needs to raise the money as quickly as possible as a sudden growth spurt could suddenly knock Megan off the 70 degree cut-off, preventing her from being a candidate.

“This means so much to us because our children are our entire world; we would move heaven and earth to make sure they have everything they need,” said Laura.

“Megan needs this; without it, she will have to spend her teenage years in a brace that makes her angry and depressed and then have to have a surgery that will force her to give up gymnastics – the one thing in life that she loves,” she continued.

Laura and Megan would be eternally grateful to anyone who donates to their cause, helping Megan to get the life-changing surgery that she needs.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

14 minutes 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

20 minutes 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 of alleged offences including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, 40, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, faces six linked charges arising from incidents reported to have taken place earlier this year. Alcock, who did not enter pleas during the administrative hearings, appeared on several occasions as the court dealt with bail issues and case management.

Multiple assault allegations
The charges listed before magistrates include:
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional strangulation
Common assault of a woman
Criminal damage relating to a domestic incident
Further assault allegations linked to the same complainant
A breach of bail conditions

The court heard that Alcock had previously been granted conditional bail. However, he was brought back before magistrates twice during the same reporting period for alleged breaches of those conditions, resulting in updated bail decisions.

Bail breached — defendant remanded

On two separate entries in the court register, Alcock was listed as having breached his bail, leading magistrates to remand him into custody pending the next hearing. On other dates within the same week, he was again re-released on conditional bail, with strict terms imposed, including restrictions on contact with the complainant and exclusions from certain locations.

He is now remanded on conditional bail with his next appearance set for Swansea Crown Court, where the more serious matters — including the alleged non-fatal strangulation — will be dealt with.

Case sent to Crown Court

Magistrates directed that the case is too serious to be heard locally and must proceed to the Crown Court for trial or sentence.

The Herald understands that all listed charges fall under the same prosecution reference, indicating they form part of a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution. No further details were opened in court at this stage.

Crime

Rogue roofer conned homeowner out of thousands

Published

36 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Caerphilly investigation leads to court conviction

A ROGUE trader from Pembroke has been ordered to pay more than £6,000 after duping a homeowner into handing over thousands for unnecessary roofing work.

Douggie Whitbread, aged twenty-five and living at Coldwell Terrace, Pembroke, persuaded his victim that he “probably needed a new roof” before charging £4,350 for work that was either unnecessary or not carried out properly.

Whitbread admitted two counts of fraud relating to a property on Griffiths Street, Ystrad Mynach, with the offences taking place between August 12 and October 16, 2023.

He appeared before Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court, where he was ordered to pay a total of £6,130. That includes £4,350 in compensation, £1,500 in prosecution costs, a £200 fine, and an £80 victim surcharge.

The case was brought following an investigation by Caerphilly Trading Standards, who urged residents to be cautious of unsolicited offers of home maintenance work.