News

Politicians question Hart’s £800 tickets and hospitality from bank firm

Published

7 years ago

July 19, 2018

SIMON HART MP has been embroiled in controversy as it has emerged he accepted £800 worth of hospitality from a bank who has recently shut branches in the county.

Earlier this year, Mr Hart, MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, hosted a high profile public meeting with NatWest and local community leaders in what appeared to be an attempt to prevent the bank closing branches in Pembroke and Narberth.

It followed similar closures in St. Clears and Whitland, which have left many rural towns without any banking infrastructure, a move which has dismayed and angered local small businesses. Branches have been replaced with a weekly 45 minute mobile bank visit.

Mr Hart also expressed dismay that the mobile NatWest bank in Narberth is going to be placed on the outskirts of town and not in the High Street or the main town car park.

Yet The Parliamentary Register of Members’ Financial Interests shows that Mr Hart accepted £800 worth of tickets and hospitality to attend test match cricket at Lords from NatWest’s parent company, The Royal Bank of Scotland.

Local Labour Politicians Cllr Vic Dennis and Parliamentary Candidate Marc Tierney say that they are shocked Mr Hart would accept such a substantial gift when businesses and the wider community are unhappy at the way the big banks are treating rural constituencies like Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire.

Cllr Vic Dennis said: “During our meeting, called by Simon Hart, I made it clear he should lobby the Treasury to tell RBS and NatWest to think again before proceeding with their closure programme. The closure of NatWest in Narberth also meant the removal of the town’s last remaining ATM on the High Street.

“I’m assured by businesses and customers that Narberth was a busy branch but our MP has failed to do what he set out to do, retain the bank and protect our most rural towns.

“I was horrified to learn that our MP has been accepting gifts of this nature particularly whilst this closure programme was underway.”

Marc Tierney said: “Our rural, coastal constituency deserves the best public representation. Local voters will be rightly feel betrayed by the insensitive actions of their Tory MP, who on the one hand is courting publicity for appearing to listen to local concerns, meanwhile when he is away in Westminster is accepting very generous donations from a bank who is actively acting against local interests.”

Mr Hart was not available for comment on the issue.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

5 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

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.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

5 hours 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

5 hours 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 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.