THE WIDOW of a Carmarthenshire father killed by a dangerous driver has been left facing months of uncertainty after being told the man jailed over her husband’s death may fall under new sentencing rules.

Aaron Jones, 38, from Llanpumsaint, died while walking his dog on December 23, 2024. His death devastated his family and shocked the close-knit village community.

Daniel Douglas Wyke, from Carmarthen, later admitted causing death by dangerous driving. He was jailed at Swansea Crown Court for four-and-a-half years and banned from driving for eight years and two months.

Now Aaron’s widow, Lisa Jones, has received correspondence indicating that Wyke may be affected by provisions introduced under the Sentencing Act 2026.

The family has been told it may not know until the end of August whether the changes will affect the time he spends in custody.

Ann Davies MP for Caerfyrddin and Nerys Evans MS for Sir Gaerfyrddin have now written to the Ministry of Justice seeking assurances that Aaron’s family will be heard during any review process.

They said the uncertainty had added further pain for a family already living with unimaginable loss.

“Our thoughts remain firmly with Lisa Jones, her family and the community of Llanpumsaint, who continue to endure unimaginable grief following the tragic loss of Aaron,” they said.

“To now face uncertainty over the sentence of the man responsible for his death adds further distress at an already devastating time.

“It is vital that the Ministry of Justice listens to victims and their families. Any move to shorten sentences in cases of this seriousness must be approached with the utmost caution and sensitivity.”

Nerys Evans MS said victims and their families must remain at the centre of the justice system.

She added: “We have written to the Ministry of Justice to seek assurance that the voice and view of Aaron’s family are able to be heard as part of any process to review the sentence.”

Ann Davies also raised the case in Westminster on Thursday, July 2.

Speaking in the House of Commons, she said her constituent Aaron Jones had been killed in a hit-and-run while walking his dog, and that his widow had since received a letter from the Ministry of Justice about sentence changes under the Sentencing Act 2026.

She asked whether ministers accepted that waiting until the end of August to learn whether Wyke could be released earlier than expected was causing further distress to victims’ families.

Sir Alan Campbell, Leader of the House of Commons, said he understood the sensitivity of the case and the distress caused to Aaron’s family.

He said: “These are difficult decisions, but I understand the point about assurances as far as they can be given to families.”

He added that he hoped the Ministry of Justice had heard the concerns and said he would raise the matter directly.

The Sentencing Act 2026 received Royal Assent in January. The Government says the reforms are intended to tackle prison overcrowding, increase the use of tougher community restrictions and make greater use of supervision and tagging after release.

However, the case has highlighted the anxiety caused to victims’ families when changes to release arrangements are communicated before the full impact on individual cases is known.

For Lisa Jones and her children, the question now is not only what decision will be made, but why they must wait weeks to find out.

PEMBROKESHIRE-BASED Ascona Group has completed the acquisition of Truckhaven (Carnforth) Ltd, a major trunk road services area in Lancashire.

The deal expands Ascona’s national portfolio to 70 sites and strengthens the group’s position in the UK roadside retail and services sector.

Truckhaven is located at Junction 35 of the M6 and has long been regarded as an important stopping point for the commercial transport industry and travelling public.

The 17-acre site includes an Esso-branded filling station, a detached 24-hour forecourt retail shop, overnight parking for 245 lorries, and an amenity building with a restaurant, showers, retail shop, licensed bar and launderette.

The site also includes a 26-bedroom en-suite hotel, providing accommodation and respite for drivers and other customers.

Darren Briggs, founder and CEO of Ascona Group, said: “We are delighted to complete the acquisition of Truckhaven.

“This is an exciting addition to our growing portfolio and reflects our confidence in the long-term opportunities within the UK roadside services market.

“Our ambition is to build on Truckhaven’s strong reputation by investing in the site, enhancing the customer retail experience, and creating a first-class destination for drivers and visitors alike.

“We have ambitious plans for the site. We intend to improve the forecourt facilities with a brand-new retail shop offering, and for HGV drivers, a brand-new state-of-the-art truck wash in the coming months.”

Ascona Group has become one of the UK’s most acquisitive independent forecourt operators, with continued investment across fuel retail, convenience, food-to-go and roadside services.

The acquisition of Truckhaven further broadens the group’s presence in a strategically important part of the market.

Michael Jelley, of Stonplan, who originally developed the Truckhaven site at Carnforth in the early 1990s, said: “We are confident that Ascona are the right people to take the site forward as the industry develops.

“They inherit a robust business that has prioritised the provision of high-quality facilities for the haulage industry, along with an outstanding operational team.”

Ascona Group said it continues to evaluate further acquisition opportunities across the UK as it pursues its long-term vision of building one of the country’s leading independent roadside retail and services businesses.

Legal work was undertaken by Simmons & Simmons for Ascona Group and Keystone Law for Truckhaven (Carnforth) Ltd.

Report due in September on replacing appointments with ANPR and CCTV monitoring

A PLAN to remove the booking system at Pembrokeshire’s waste and recycling centres is set to be brought before Cabinet later this year.

Council Leader Cllr Tessa Hodgson has confirmed that it is the intention of her administration to scrap the current system, which requires residents to book before using the county’s waste and recycling centres.

She has asked Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, Cllr Rhys Sinnett, to work with officers on a report setting out the options for a new approach.

Cllr Hodgson said Pembrokeshire had a strong record on recycling, but added that the booking system remained a regular concern for local residents.

She said: “Pembrokeshire is consistently one of Wales’ best performing local authorities when it comes to waste and recycling, and I thank our staff and the people of Pembrokeshire for helping us continue to improve.

“However, the booking system is an issue that is raised with me time and time again by residents, and so removing the booking system is a priority for me and my administration.

“With modern technology such as number plate recognition and CCTV monitoring, I see no reason why we cannot ensure the sites are used appropriately and safely by council taxpayers, while minimising any unauthorised use, without the need for a booking system.”

Cllr Hodgson said the current arrangements could be “time-consuming and bureaucratic” and that the council should be able to protect the service while making it easier for residents to use.

She added: “I believe we can create a system that maintains high standards of waste disposal, provides value for money for taxpayers, and continues to maximise recycling, all without unnecessary bureaucracy.

“It is our administration’s intention that a report is brought to the September Cabinet meeting with a clear plan to remove the booking system from our waste and recycling centres.”

Cllr Rhys Sinnett said the council would look at a practical replacement which keeps sites safe and prevents misuse.

He said: “We know how important it is for residents to have straightforward, convenient access to their local waste and recycling centres, and I welcome this work to explore how we can make that happen.

“Our focus will be on developing a practical, modern approach that improves the experience for residents while maintaining safety, protecting the service from misuse, and continuing to deliver strong recycling performance for Pembrokeshire.

“I look forward to bringing forward proposals that strike the right balance for our communities.”

Any change would be subject to Cabinet considering the report and agreeing the next steps. The report is expected to go before members in September.