A MAN has appeared before magistrates after goading people to fight with him in Castle Square, Haverfordwest.

CCTV footage shown to officers following the incident on September 8 showed Nathan Clark, 30,  fighting with another male as he shouted abuse at onlookers and asked another male to have a fight.

“He was aggressive and seemed in a rage for no reason,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverordwest magistrates this week.

“He was shouting abuse at people and asked a male to fight.  He then walked over to Castle Square where there were several people standing outside the pub, and the defendant then began trying to pick fights with them.”

When police officers arrested Clark, he was found to have 0.6 grams of cocaine in his possession.

Clark, of Goat Street, Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to using threatening or abusive words and behaviour that was likely to cause distress and to a second charge of possessing cocaine, which is a Class A drug.  He was represented by solicitor Liam Francis.

“He’s extremely disappointed to be back before the courts as he feels that since his release from custody he’s been making significant progress,” he said.

“He was not the person to throw the first punch and feels he was acting in self defence,  however his behaviour and the words he was using that day were unacceptable. He accepts that he should have handled things differently.

“My client was not the aggressor, but he was attacked by two other males.”

Mr Francis said that the last three years have been ‘incredibly difficult’ for the defendant. 

“Not only has he had to serve a period in custody, but he’s lost his mother, his cousin, his brother, his father and his aunt, all within that time.

“He understands that turning to drink and drugs is not the answer, and he does not want to go back down that path.”

Mr Francis said that Clark has sought support from the Dyfed Drugs and Alcohol Service as a result of the incident, as well as bereavement counselling.

He was fined £240 and ordered to pay a £96 court surcharge and £85 costs.  A forfeiture and destruction order was imposed for the drugs.

WELSH pirate-inspired rum maker Barti Rum welcomes a brand-new partnership with Tesco as it unveils two new products, its spiced rum, and Cream Liqueur drink to stores nationwide.

The two beverages have hit shelves, exclusively, as of September 16 and are the first Barti Rum products to appear in mainstream supermarkets.

Both the spiced rum and cream liqueur are packaged in a sustainable model, being made from 50% recycled glass with the label being made from fully biodegradable cane sugar byproducts.

Brewed with the culture of the Pembrokeshire at the heart of it, the silky smooth and elegant taste is married together with the infusion of wild hand-picked laver seaweed from the Pembrokeshire coast, having umami undertones which further soften and enrich the taste at 35% alcohol.

Managing Director, Fran Barnikel said: “We understand the importance of history and tradition and we instil this into every bottle we brew.

“Our rum is the perfect marriage between Caribbean distilling and Welsh flavour.

“With this new spiced rum, we are able to bring the Pembrokeshire flavour reaches every corner of the country and we can’t thank Tesco enough for being a part of this.”

The Barti bottle label displays a traditional Welsh ship on top of waves, alluding to the historic past of the name ‘Barti.’

Barti’s Cream Liqueur is a plant-based drink that provides a creamy full-bodied taste combined with vanilla, clove, cinnamon and hint of orange. The drink is a great choice for vegans and those that enjoy lactose free diets.

The cream liqueur is also Barti’s most awarded beverage having won seven awards at the World Drinks Awards some of which being “Best in Country”, “Best New Launch” and “Best Bottle Design”.

The Barti name goes back to the 17th century when a young man named John ‘Barti Ddu’ Roberts from the small village of Casnewydd Bach, Pembrokeshire, took to the seas with the hopes of making a name for himself in the British Royal Navy.

Where John searched for fame, he in fact found infamy when he was captured by pirates and forced to become a part of the crew.

The Barti beverage listings are the latest milestones from owner and creator of Barti Rum drinks, Jonathan Williams.

Since leaving his day job 14 years ago, Jonathan has created various business using his home county of Pembrokeshire as influence and inspiration.

He created and has run the successful café Mor at Pembrokeshire at Freshwater West for the past 14 years along with the Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company for 12. Here he won gold at the British Street Awards and has catered at major events such as the Olympic Village and Glastonbury.

Tesco Wales buyer Nathan Edwards expressed his excitement about the new launch and is certain that it will go down well with shoppers.

“We are enormously proud to be the first retailers to have Barti Rum drinks on its shelves.

“The Barti Rum drinks are synonymous with enjoyment and fun in Wales, and we are happy to be a part of their journey in bringing the Pembrokeshire flavour and culture to the whole of Wales.

“I am proud that we have landed the exclusive launch, and I look forward to an ongoing partnership with this company that is so rich in history.”

Barti Spiced Rum is the latest new Welsh product to be launched by Tesco in Wales, with the supermarket’s Wales-based buying team planning further product launches this year to further expand its industry-leading range of Welsh products in stores.

AS we head into autumn and winter, the Welsh Government is reminding everyone a few simple actions can help protect you and your family from common winter illnesses and support the NHS to focus on people who need the most care.

Vaccination is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of flu, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and other common respiratory viruses, which traditionally increase during the colder months, alongside the occasional peaks of Covid-19 cases throughout the year.

Flu vaccinations for children are already underway in schools and the adult flu and Covid-19 vaccination programme will begin on 1 October.

For the first time, pregnant women are being offered the RSV vaccine to help protect newborn babies from this virus, which can lead to serious complications, especially in winter. The RSV vaccine is also being offered to people as they turn 75 years old as part of a year-round programme which launched earlier this month in Wales.

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Jeremy Miles, said: “As our health and care services prepare for winter, we can all take steps to protect ourselves and each other.

“Taking up the offer of vaccination if you are eligible for a flu jab, for a Covid-19 booster or the new RSV vaccine will help protect you from these common illnesses. Pharmacies provide expert advice and treatment for a wide range of common conditions from coughs and colds to stomach issues and can help to ease the pressure on GP and other NHS services to make sure they are there for those who need the most care and support.”

The Welsh Government has today issued a Winter Respiratory Framework to help health and care services manage the expected rise in respiratory illnesses over the winter months to protect the most vulnerable in society from serious illness.

Health boards across Wales have also been given guidance to ensure infection prevention measures in healthcare settings are robust to keep people safe and maintain the efficiency of health services throughout the winter.

The Public Health Wales website provides details about eligibility for the NHS flu and Covid-19 vaccines: Eligibility for the vaccine – Public Health Wales