News

Prolific shoplifter stole over ‘benefits delay’

Published

8 years ago

January 2, 2018

A 28-YEAR-OLD shoplifter from Milford Haven was jailed for a total of 22 weeks at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.

Earlier today (Jan 2) after pleading guilty to her 43rd criminal offence – her 14th for theft – Kelly Louise Rees was put behind bars.

In her latest escapade, she had filled a trolley full of shopping at the Co-operative store in Kilgetty and brazenly walked out without paying. Her actions were undetected by store staff, but an eagle-eyed member of the public saw that she had not paid – and contacted shop management.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecutor for the CPS, told the court that the store checked the CCTV and it indeed showed the woman filling the trolley and walking out.

He explained that the police recognised the defendant, who was well known to them. He went on to explain that the defendant is subject a suspended prison sentence – and would likely now have to be sent to prison. He also asked the court to consider a figure for compensation, and to keep in mind that this woman has a bad record for sop lifting – however the value of goods taken was not known.

Defending, Mike Kelleher said that financial problems were the reason for the offending. He said: “You have heard from the press that once someone stops a benefits claim and re-starts – it takes time for payments to start again. The only money my client was getting was child benefit at £48 per week. She rang the council for food vouchers. She went to citizen’s advice. This is a case of more money being needed – but it didn’t arrive.”

Trying to explain that the theft was only for that which was necessary, Mr Kelleher went on to say: “This offence is groceries. Not alcohol, not frivolities. My client has written a letter which I ask you to consider. She is extremely concerned about going back to prison. It’s a frightening experience for her – and she is a woman with three children to look after.

But the court heard that it was only one day after coming off licence for the previous custodial sentence on November 27 that she went on her latest shoplifting spree – and Rees had only been released from prison on October 30.

The defendant sobbed as sentence was being passed – and the chairman of the bench had to ask her to keep quiet whist she asked for a new chance for the New Year.

Due to her 42 previous offences and 13 previous convictions are for theft – the magistrates decided to activate the suspended prison sentence for 16 weeks with a further 6 weeks in prison for the Kilgetty theft.

As well as the total of 22 weeks in prison Rees was ordered to pay £150 towards the victims of crime.

News

BBC apologises to Herald’s editor for inaccurate story

Published

30 minutes ago

December 4, 2025

Staff Writer

THE BBC has issued a formal apology and amended a six-year-old article written by BBC Wales Business Correspondent Huw Thomas after its Executive Complaints Unit ruled that the original headline and wording gave an “incorrect impression” that Herald editor Tom Sinclair was personally liable for tens of thousands of pounds in debt.

The 2019 report, originally headlined “Herald newspaper editor Tom Sinclair has £70,000 debts”, has now been changed.

The ECU found: “The wording of the article and its headline could have led readers to form the incorrect impression that the debt was Mr Sinclair’s personal responsibility… In that respect the article failed to meet the BBC’s standards of due accuracy.”

Mr Sinclair said: “I’m grateful to the ECU for the apology and for correcting the personal-liability impression that caused real harm for six years. However, the article still links the debts to ‘the group which publishes The Herald’ when in fact they related to printing companies that were dissolved two years before the Herald was founded in 2013. I have asked the BBC to add that final clarification so the record is completely accurate.”

A formal apology and correction of this kind from the BBC is extremely rare, especially for a story more than six years old.

Business

First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead

Published

3 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines
docked at Pembroke Port yesterday afternoon last week, marking the start of physical
deliveries for the multi-million-pound renewable energy project.

The Maltese-registered general cargo vessel Peak Bergen berthed at Pembroke Dock on
shortly after 4pm on Wednesday 26th November, bringing tower sections and other heavy
components for the three Enercon turbines that will eventually stand on land adjacent to the
existing gas terminal at Waterston.

A second vessel, the Irish-flagged Wilson Flex IV, has arrived in Pembroke Port today is
due to arrive in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) carrying the giant rotor blades.
The deliveries follow a successful trial convoy on 25 November, when police-escorted low-
loader trailers carried dummy loads along the planned route from the port through
Pembroke, past Waterloo roundabout and up the A477 to the Dragon LNG site.

Dragon LNG’s Community and Social Performance Officer, Lynette Round, confirmed the
latest movements in emails to the Herald.

“The Peak Bergen arrived last week yesterday with the first components,” she said. “We are
expecting another delivery tomorrow (Thursday) onboard the Wilson Flex IV. This will be
blades and is currently showing an ETA of approximately 03:30.”

The £14.3 million project, approved by Welsh Ministers last year, will see three turbines with
a combined capacity of up to 13.5 MW erected on company-owned land next to the LNG
terminal. Once operational – expected in late 2026 – they will generate enough electricity to
power the entire site, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

Port of Milford Haven shipping movements showed the Peak Bergen approaching the Haven
throughout Wednesday morning before finally tying up at the cargo berth in Pembroke Dock.

Cranes began unloading operations yesterday evening.

The Weather conditions are currently were favourable for this morning’s the arrival of
the Wilson Flex IV, which was tracking south of the Smalls at midnight.

The abnormal-load convoys carrying the components from the port to Waterston are
expected to begin early next year, subject to final police and highway approvals.

A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide training opportunities and energy-
bill support for residents in nearby Waterston, Llanstadwell and Neyland.
Further updates will be issued by Dragon LNG as the Port of Milford Haven as the delivery
programme continues.

Photo: Martin Cavaney

Crime

Banned for 40 months after driving with cocaine breakdown product in blood

Published

3 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A MILFORD HAVEN woman has been handed a lengthy driving ban after admitting driving with a controlled drug in her system more than ten times over the legal limit.

SENTENCED AT HAVERFORDWEST

Sally Allen, 43, of Wentworth Close, Hubberston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Dec 4) for sentencing, having pleaded guilty on November 25 to driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the prescribed limit.

The court heard that Allen was stopped on August 25 on the Old Hakin Road at Tiers Cross while driving an Audi A3. Blood analysis showed 509µg/l of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine. The legal limit is 50µg/l.

COMMUNITY ORDER AND REHABILITATION

Magistrates imposed a 40-month driving ban, backdated to her interim disqualification which began on November 25.

Allen was also handed a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities as directed by the Probation Service.

She was fined £120, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge. Her financial penalties will be paid in £25 monthly instalments from January 1, 2026.

The bench—Mrs H Roberts, Mr M Shankland and Mrs J Morris—said her guilty plea had been taken into account when passing sentence.