Judge reminds jurors there is no standard timeframe for victims to come forward as trial reaches final stage

A JURY has been told that allegations at the centre of a historic child sexual abuse trial first emerged following a psychic tarot card reading, as the case reached its final stage at Swansea Crown Court.

Thomas Kirk, aged 50, of Meyler Crescent, Milford Haven, denies orally raping and sexually assaulting a child aged between thirteen and fifteen in Pembrokeshire between 2007 and 2008.

The allegations relate to a single alleged incident said to have taken place more than fifteen years ago at a property where both the defendant and the complainant were present at the time.

Summing up the case on Wednesday (Dec 17), His Honour Paul Thomas KC reminded jurors of evidence that the complainant first disclosed the allegation in 2021 after attending a session with a psychic medium who was conducting a tarot card reading.

The jury heard that during the reading, the name “Tommy” repeatedly arose. The complainant became silent, and the medium suggested there may have been a sexually violent past involving the complainant.

Defence counsel Alan Wright told the jury this led the complainant to later say: “The more I think about it happening, the more I can remember something happening.”

The court heard that the complainant later described a single incident occurring when she was aged fourteen or fifteen, while her mother was at work. She was unable to recall the precise time and could not remember whether the defendant ejaculated.

The defence invited jurors to consider whether the circumstances in which the allegation first surfaced were relevant when assessing memory and reliability.

In his legal directions, the judge told jurors there is no standard timeframe in which a victim of sexual abuse must come forward.

Prosecuting, Robin Rouch told the court it took several years for the complainant to disclose the allegation, first telling her partner and then a close friend, before reporting it to police.

Mr Rouch said the accounts given to her partner and friend were consistent with the account later given to police, and submitted that this supported her credibility.

He told jurors: “It is plain that you have been deliberately lied to by Mr Kirk.”

Jurors were reminded of evidence from the former partner of the defendant, who told the court she had no memory of ever returning to the property in question to find the defendant drunk on the night in question and had no knowledge of him actively drinking alcohol at that time.

The court heard the defendant’s medical records from the relevant period showed he was receiving support for smoking cessation, with no indicators of alcohol misuse recorded.

The witness also told the court there had never been any sexually violent behaviour towards her from he defendant, and that she had not observed any sexually inappropriate behaviour towards the complainant.

The judge reminded jurors that Kirk has no previous history of sexual violence.

Giving evidence, Kirk accepted he may have let people down in various ways but told the court he had never sexually abused the complainant.

In concluding his summing up, the judge reminded jurors it was for them alone to decide which evidence they accepted and whether the prosecution had made them sure of the defendant’s guilt.

The jury is expected to retire to consider its verdict later today.

The case continues.

CHANGES are being introduced to several local bus services in Pembrokeshire from January, including new early-morning journeys aimed at improving commuter and school travel.

From Monday (Jan 5), First Cymru will make timetable changes to the 302, 349 and X49 services.

On the 349 route between Haverfordwest and Tenby via Pembroke Dock, two new morning peak journeys will be added in both directions. The changes are intended to improve access to work and school in Tenby and Pembroke Dock, and to address a gap in early services travelling back towards Haverfordwest.

The first additional service will depart Haverfordwest at 06:25, travelling via Neyland at 07:02 and Pembroke Dock at 07:17, before arriving in Tenby at 08:16. A second new journey will leave Tenby at 07:20, passing through Pembroke Dock at 08:30 and Neyland at 08:44, arriving in Haverfordwest at 09:14.

Further minor adjustments will also be made to the 349 timetable to help improve punctuality.

As a result of these changes, the X49 service between Haverfordwest and Tenby via Narberth will depart an hour earlier from Monday (Jan 5), with the first journey now leaving Haverfordwest at 06:30.

Amendments will also be introduced to the 302 timetable from the same date, with the aim of improving reliability on that route.

Updated timetables are now available online.

In addition, Pembrokeshire County Council has launched a public consultation on proposed changes to several other bus services around the Haverfordwest area. The proposals are designed to improve reliability and provide better connections with other bus and rail services.

The consultation covers the following routes:

• 301 – Haverfordwest town service
• 307 – Haverfordwest–Merlin’s Bridge circular
• 308 – Haverfordwest–Llangwm–Burton circular
• 311 – Haverfordwest to Broad Haven
• 313 – Haverfordwest to Wiston

The consultation closes on January 26, 2026. Any approved changes would be introduced in Spring 2026.

Paper copies of the new timetables and consultation documents can be requested by calling 01437 764551.

Further information is available on the council’s website.

A TEN Minute Rule Bill calling for the UK to negotiate a customs union with the European Union has passed its first Parliamentary hurdle after a knife-edge vote in the House of Commons.

The proposal, brought forward by Liberal Democrat Europe spokesperson Al Pinkerton MP, was approved by a single vote on Tuesday after the Commons split 100 votes to 100, with the Deputy Speaker using their casting vote in favour of the Bill proceeding.

The Liberal Democrats described the result as a “historic victory”, arguing it sets an important parliamentary precedent for closer post-Brexit trading ties with the EU.

The vote saw 13 Labour backbenchers break ranks to support the proposal, alongside MPs from the Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru. In Wales, six MPs voted in favour, including Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville Roberts, Ben Lake, Llinos Medi, Ann Davies, and Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick, as well as Labour’s Tonia Antoniazzi, the MP for Gower.

However, the majority of Welsh Labour MPs chose not to back the measure. Among those abstaining was Henry Tufnell, Labour MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, who did not vote either for or against the Bill.

Other Welsh Labour MPs who abstained included representatives from Cardiff, Swansea, Llanelli, Neath, Newport, the Valleys and north Wales constituencies.

Economic impact of Brexit cited

The Liberal Democrats pointed to analysis from the House of Commons Library, commissioned by the party, which estimates the UK is losing around £250m a day in tax revenue as a result of Brexit-related economic impacts.

The party also highlighted concerns about the effect of Brexit on Welsh trade, citing research suggesting the volume of Welsh exports to the EU fell by around 31% between 2019 and 2024, while EU imports into Wales declined by approximately 20% over the same period.

They argue that small and medium-sized businesses in Wales are particularly exposed to additional trade barriers with the EU, given Wales’ historic reliance on European markets.

Speaking after the vote, Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster spokesperson David Chadwick MP said the result reflected growing pressure for a change in the UK’s trading relationship with Europe.

“Across Wales, people are crying out for real change and a solution to the cost-of-living crisis,” he said. “A customs union with the EU is the single biggest step the government could take to grow our economy, put money back into people’s pockets and generate billions for our public services.”

Government position unchanged

The vote does not change government policy, and Ten Minute Rule Bills rarely become law without government backing. Labour ministers have so far ruled out rejoining the single market or customs union, citing commitments made during the general election campaign.

However, the narrow margin and cross-party support are likely to add pressure on the government as it seeks to “reset” relations with the EU through negotiations on trade, defence and regulatory cooperation.

For Pembrokeshire, where agriculture, food production, tourism and small exporters form a significant part of the local economy, the debate is likely to resonate, particularly among businesses affected by post-Brexit paperwork, costs and delays.

The Bill will now proceed to a second reading at a later date, though its long-term prospects remain uncertain.