News
Community rallies to support Tia
A YOUNG girl from Milford Haven is currently battling for her life after being diagnosed with a rare form of soft–tissue cancer.
Just four weeks ago, 12-year-old Tia Llewellyn was a seemingly healthy girl who had just celebrated her birthday and started in year seven at Milford Haven School, now she has just a five per cent chance of surviving alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma – a rare cancer found almost only in children – which is attacking her whole body.
In addition to bone marrow cancer, Tia has tumours in her kidneys and neck. The youngster has now been put in an induced coma at the Heath Hospital in Cardiff.
In what started as a suspected sickness bug – for which she was sent home from school – it soon became clear that Tia’s condition was much more serious.
Tia was initially transferred from Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest to Glangwili General Hospital in Carmarthen where doctors suspected she had a kidney infection. Soon after, Tia was told she needed to go to Cardiff as she had cancer.
Early diagnoses suggested Tia had burkitts lymphoma, another rare, but more treatable form of cancer that affects the lymph nodes. Just three days later she was faced with news that she had stage four alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.
Rhabdomyosarcoma falls under soft–tissue sarcoma, which accounts for just six per cent of childhood cancers. The rarity of soft–tissue sarcoma is highlighted by records collected by Cancer Research UK which show an average of just 98 cases a year in children aged 0-14.
In order to treat the tumours attacking her neck and kidney, Tia must travel to America. But before that can happen, her bone marrow must be treated here.
Doctors experienced several difficulties in the lead up to trying to treat Tia, at which point she was put in an induced coma. Her family are hopeful she will be awake by the end of the week and are praying for her full recovery.
Tia’s mum Sarah has since given up work to be at her daughter’s bedside. Her grandmother, Linda, now makes the five hour round trip to Cardiff every weekday to see her granddaughter.
An online fundraiser started by Tia’s aunt Kerryanne Clayton has already surpassed it’s initial target of £5,000; but he family says more will be needed to help with specialist treatment.
The family would thank all those who have donated so far, as well as the doctors in Cardiff and the children’s charity LATCH which has provided Sarah with an apartment to ease some of the pressure of the five hour round trip from Milford Haven to Cardiff.
Crime
Banned for sleeping in car whilst over the drink drive limit
A MOTORIST caught sleeping in a BMW in MIiford Haven town centre has appeared before magistrates for being in charge of a motor vehicle when he was over the legal alcohol limit.
Police officers discovered John Steele, 30, soon after 5.30pm on March 9 when he was asleep in his red BMW which was parked in a car park at Hamilton Terrace.
“The engine was running and the lights were on,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told District Judge Mark Layton who was sitting at Haverfordwest magistrates court this week.
“Officers smelt alcohol, he was intoxicated and he was slurring his words.”
Officers were unable to carry out a roadside breath test as a result of them not being in possession of a breathalyser at the scene of the incident. Steele was conveyed to a police custody suite where two samples of breath were subsequently taken, the lowest giving a reading of 44 mcg.
Steele, who is employed as a machine technician in Selby, pleaded guilty to the charge of being in charge of a motor vehicle while he was above the alcohol limit.
He was fined £400 and ordered to pay a £160 court surcharge and £85 costs. His licence was endorsed with ten penalty points.
Crime
Shop worked kicked police officer before attempting to bite her
CHRISTMAS festivities turned sour for Haverfordwest shop worker Bryonny Smith after she kicked an on-duty police officer before attempting to bite her.
Police officers, including a firearms officer, were called to an address in Marble Hall Road, Milford Haven, shortly after midnight on December 27. There they discovered Smith, 23, hiding in a garden.
“She was escorted to an unmarked police car but she kept banging her head and tried to bite the officer,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told District Judge Mark Layton when he sat at Haverfordwest magistrates court earlier this week.
“The defendant then kicked out at the officer, making contact with her lower right leg.”
Meanwhile probation officer Julie Norman said that the offence was committed after Smith had spent Christmas at her boyfriend’s home in Milford Haven.
“An argument broke out and things got out of hand,” she said.
Smith, of Fleming Crescent, Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting an emergency worker by beating.
She was sentenced to a community order during which she must carry out ten rehabilitation activity requirement days and was fined £150. She was also ordered to pay £50 compensation to the police officer, £85 costs and a £114 court surcharge.
“Biting an officer and assaulting an officer is something that this court does not tolerate,” commented Judge Layton when passing sentence.
“If you come before this court again on a similar charge, you’ll get a custodial sentence.”
Crime
Twelve weeks in jail for stealing computer tablets from McDonald’s
A HAVERFORDWEST man has been jailed after stealing two computer tablets from the counter at the town’s Mcdonald’s restaurant.
Asa Wandelt entered the Haverfordwest branch of Mcdonalds on April 7, walked up to the counter and placed a computer tablet valued at £150 inside his jacket. CCTV footage then showed Wandelt walking out of the restaurant.
Once again on April 16 Wandelt returned to Mcdonalds and stole yet another computer tablet which had been placed on the counter. Once again, he concealed it inside his coat before leaving the restaurant.
This week Wandelt appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to two charges of theft.
Probation officer Julie Norman said the offences were committed whilst Wandelt was the subject of a post-sentence supervision following his release from prison for previous offences.
”He’s disengaged with services over the past few weeks and is not addressing his drug use nor his misbehaviour, issues” she said.
Ms Norman went on to say that Wandelt was recently evicted from the Silverdale hostel in Johnston where he had been granted emergency accommodation following his release from custody. His eviction was the result of his behavioural issues.
District Judge Mark Layton sentenced Wandelt to 12 weeks in custody. He was also ordered to pay a total of £300 compensation to Mcdonalds, a £134 court surcharge and £85 costs.
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