News
27-year-old killed in crash will be ‘missed greatly’
TRIBUTES have been paid to 27-year-old Julie Michelle Louise Holt who sadly died in a road traffic collision near Trecwn on February 1.
Julie is originally from the Blackburn area and moved to Pembrokeshire in the last few years.
Her family has released the following tribute to her: “My daughter was always smiling and she was always there for family and friends.
“She will be missed greatly by family and everyone who knew her.”
The two-car collision involved a black Peugeot 206, which was travelling towards Haverfordwest, and a silver Vauxhall Astra, which was travelling towards Fishguard.
A witness at the scene told this newspaper that the scene was horrific, but praised the overwhelming emergency services response.
Our source said: “There were police everywhere, the main road was a sea of blue lights – I think I counted 12 police cars, ambulances and others.”
He added: “The air ambulance service was also involved following the accident.”
A spokesman from the police told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “Sadly, a woman aged in her 20s has died as a result of her injuries. Her family is being supported by specially trained officers.
“Five people, who were travelling in the second car, received serious injuries and remain in hospital.
“Officers are appealing for anyone who saw anything, or was travelling on that road around the time of the collision, to report information by calling 101.
“If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908. Quote reference: DP-20190201-347”
Crime
Pembrokeshire dairy farmer banned after drink-drive offence
Lucy Pope told police she had drunk alcohol earlier that evening after officers stopped her car in Haverfordwest.
A YOUNG Pembrokeshire dairy farmer has been banned from the road after being caught driving while over the drink-drive limit.
Lucy Pope, 22, pleaded guilty to the offence when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
The court heard that Pope was arrested in the early hours of March 7 after police stopped her Volkswagen T-Roc in Dew Street, Haverfordwest.
“At around 1.30am, police received a call from a member of the public who suspected the defendant may have been driving after consuming alcohol,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court.
“Her car was located and, when officers spoke to Lucy Pope, she confirmed she had consumed alcohol at around 9pm that evening.”
A subsequent blood test showed Pope had 103 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.
Pope, of Fronhaul, Hermon, Glogue, was represented by solicitor Aled Owen, who said the offence was “very much at odds” with her character.
“This is a woman who is very much part of the community,” he said.
“She works as a dairy farmer and also keeps her own heifers. She had spent the day watching a Six Nations rugby international with friends.
“She believed she had eaten enough during the day and thought she was under the limit. But this was a miscalculation which has been devastating.”
Magistrates disqualified Pope from driving for 12 months and fined her £115. She was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £46 surcharge.
Crime
Men threatened to have prisoner killed in chilling phone call to his father
Alexander Campbell and Jonathan Garland admitted sending a menacing message after claiming they knew people in jail who could kill James Kershaw
A COURT has heard how two men left a threatening voice message in which they claimed they knew people in prison who could kill a man’s son.
Alexander Campbell and Jonathan Garland made the call to Robert Kershaw in the early hours of December 21, 2024.
Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that the pair told Mr Kershaw they knew which prison his son, James, was in and claimed they had contacts who could arrange for him to be killed.
In the voice message, which was played to the court, the men could be heard saying: “Are you a paedophile, Mr Kershaw?
“I know exactly who your son is. I know everything.
“Are you crying? I know people in jail who will kill your son. I know exactly which prison he’s in. He’s going to get killed.”
Crown prosecutor Sian Vaughan said Mr Kershaw had received two earlier calls that night.
The first came from a withheld number and claimed his son was critically ill in prison. When Mr Kershaw contacted the prison, he was told his son was in good health.
Minutes later, he received another call in which a voice said: “Please help me.”
“He knew it wasn’t his son,” said Ms Vaughan.
“When he received the third call, he recorded it and contacted his son, who recognised the voices as those of the defendants.”
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Kershaw said the incident had caused him “extreme anxiety”.
“While these people are at large, I don’t feel safe in my own home,” he said.
Campbell, 30, who is currently serving a custodial sentence for assaulting a woman and two police officers, and Garland, 36, of Coombs Road, Milford Haven, both pleaded guilty to sending an offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing message by a public communication network.
Campbell was represented by Michael Kelleher, who told the court his client had been struggling with alcohol at the time of the offence.
“Both defendants egged each other on, and things were said that would never have been carried out,” he said.
“But he accepts what they said would have caused anxiety, concern and worry.”
Mr Kelleher said Campbell was making progress in tackling his alcohol issues while in custody.
“He has now had time to reflect and he wants to turn his life around when he gets out,” he said.
“He realises alcohol has been a problem throughout his life and he has lost years of his life as a result of his alcohol abuse. He is hoping that, upon release, his sobriety will continue.”
Garland’s solicitor, Tom Lloyd, described his client’s actions as “a moment of madness”.
“This is a man of completely clean character who has never before appeared before a court,” he said.
“Alexander Campbell was far more involved and my client’s level of involvement was considerably less.
“He is remorseful for what took place. This was a moment of madness and he was in a bad place at the time.”
Probation officer Julie Norman told the court that Garland had been under the influence of alcohol when the call was made.
“At the time of this offence, the defendant was associating with the co-defendant and they both made the telephone call while under the influence of alcohol,” she said.
“Since that day, he hasn’t consumed alcohol and he doesn’t use drugs.”
Campbell was sentenced to ten weeks in custody, to run concurrently with his existing prison sentence. He was ordered to pay an £85 contribution towards prosecution costs and a £15 surcharge.
Garland was fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 costs and an £80 surcharge.
A restraining order was imposed on both defendants, preventing them from having any direct or indirect contact with Robert Kershaw.
The order also prevents them from entering the victim’s home address and from entering any data relating directly or indirectly to the victim on any electronic device.
James Kershaw has been released from prison but is now facing new charges including an allegation of rape. He will appear at Swansea Crown Court next month. In addition, he is to appear at the same crown court later this year on separate charges of alleged online sexual activity with a child.
Entertainment
Signed Paul McCartney book donated to Ceredigion charity shop sells for £950
A BOOK signed by Sir Paul McCartney has raised almost £1,000 for charity after being donated to an Oxfam shop in Ceredigion.
The copy of Paul McCartney In His Own Words, a collection of interviews with the former Beatle, was handed in to the Oxfam shop in Aberystwyth as part of a wider collection of 1970s memorabilia.

It remained on a shelf for several months before shop manager Joan Randle discovered the inscription while sorting through the items.
The book was later sold at auction through Bonhams, raising £950 for Oxfam.
Ms Randle said the discovery was one of the highlights of her decade working at the shop.
She said: “The book had actually been sitting on a shelf for a few months alongside lots of other 1970s memorabilia.
“I’d been planning to use some of the items in a fun window display, so it wasn’t something we’d paid particular attention to at first.
“One afternoon I found myself with a bit of spare time and decided to work my way through the pile. It was one of the very last things I looked at.
“When I opened the book and saw Paul McCartney’s signature, I could hardly believe it. It was one of the best moments of my 10 years working in the shop.”
The book is signed on the inside front cover in black ballpoint pen with the message: “All the best! to ye!”
Oxfam staff have so far been unable to trace the person who donated the book.
An Oxfam spokesperson said the sale showed how valuable donations to charity shops can be.
They said: “This is a fantastic example of how a single donation can make a real difference.
“We’ve just launched an emergency appeal following the devastating earthquake in Venezuela and every donation to our shops helps ensure Oxfam can respond when communities are hit by disasters around the world.
“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who donates to Oxfam.
“Whether it’s a signed collectible, a well-loved book or an everyday item, every donation and every sale helps us stand with people when they need it most.”
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