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Pembroke Castle: Police investigating novichok hoax which wasted thousands

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DYFED-POWYS POLICE has told The Pembrokeshire Herald that the operation at Pembroke Castle on Friday and Saturday (Jul 14-15) is being considered a hoax and investigations are now underway to trace those responsible.

Police have confirmed that a bottle at Pembroke Castle was discovered with the word ‘novichok’ written on it, which prompted a 36-hour lockdown of the area. A multi-agency response included specialist teams from Llanelli.

Novichok is a Russian nerve agent which has recently been used in Salisbury, England, and has so far killed one person.

Due to the lethal nature of the nerve agent, the emergency services took all necessary precautions following the discovery and locked down the public footpath around the castle, as well as closing Pembroke Castle itself.

Fire officers from Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock erect a decontamination tent (Pic: Herald)

Temporary Chief Inspector Mike Melly told the Herald that he was ‘unable to comment on exactly what the substance was at present, however we can confirm it was a liquid which was not suspicious or dangerous’.

He added: “The item being investigated was a bottle, which had the word novichok written on it. Due to recent events in Wiltshire, and the fact the substance within the bottle was unknown, a multi-agency response was quickly activated.”

The amount spent on the operation has not been made public, however given the number of resources involved from multiple agencies, a conservative estimation would be in the thousands.

Emergency services at Pembroke Castle (Pic: Herald)

Police have also cited the disruption caused to the general public, as well as Pembroke Castle as a business, as two reasons to take the hoax ‘very seriously’.

Officers are reviewing CCTV from the area to try and trace the person or persons responsible.

“The incident is being treated as a hoax, which caused huge disruption to the community and expense to Pembroke Castle, and is being taken very seriously. The investigation is ongoing, with all lines of enquiry being followed, including reviews of CCTV footage,” Temporary Chief Inspector Mike Melly added.

Jon Williams from Pembroke Castle told the Herald: “We are glad to be re-opened.

“The police were excellent in their approach and how they dealt with the incident.

“Although we were closed for one and a half days, with some loss in takings, we always put the safety of our staff and visitors as our top priority.

“It does look like it was a hoax and we are helping police with their enquiries about how it got there.

“Hopefully they will get some success in catching the person who planted it.”

Read more on this in Friday’s edition of the Herald.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

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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.

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Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

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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.

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Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

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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.

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