News

Don’t despair – repair! Repair Cafe volunteers bring items back to life

Published

5 years ago

August 11, 2021

Carli Newell

The Repair Crew

‘DON’T THROW IT AWAY’ – that’s the message from the Repair Café, which holds events across the County.

Since May, Repair Café events have been hosted by Pembrokeshire Circle with regular events taking place in Crymych, Fishguard, Letterston, Johnston, St Davids and Scolton Manor.

The first event at Scolton Manor saw volunteer fixers repairing items from a temperamental vacuum to a torn silk tablecloth.

Marty Andrews, PCC’s Repair Café lead, said: “The owners were keen to extend the life of the items they brought along and didn’t want to just throw them away. We were really pleased to be able to repair them and stop them going to landfill.”

Volunteer Jeff Beard works on an item at the Repair Café

When you bring along an item, the repairers will discuss what they can do and plan the repair. You can then join the repairer and see how it is done, or just have a chat and a cuppa with the friendly volunteers.

Some repairs can be done there and then but if your item needs a part, the team will identify and help you source the part, for you to bring along for fitting at a later date.

More than 50 broken or damaged items have been repaired free-of-charge, including items of great sentimental value to their owner – such as grandparents’ sewing boxes and parents’ rocking chairs. Volunteer Jeff Beard added: “It’s a real privilege to repair these personal items for people, which have been sat in cupboards and not used. Bringing the items back to life ensures that they are enjoyed for years to come.”

Jane Haigh gets to work with the sewing machine

Each Repair Café focuses on different specialities. In Johnston and Crymych they focus on bike repairs. Additionally, in Fishguard, Letterston, and in St Davids, they focus on textiles and upholstery. The team will also provide pop-up garden tool repairs at community garden events this summer across the County.

There will be further Repair Cafés in Haverfordwest, Tenby, Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock later this year. Contact [email protected] for more details.

The next repair café is at Scolton Manor on Thursday, 12th August located outside the new Station Shop alongside the main car park from 1pm to 4pm. Why not come along?

Di White, of Saundersfoot, with her 30-year-old Vax which was fixed
at the Repair Café

You can find out more on the Norman Industries Facebook page @normanindustries. Details of events and more information on the Repair Cafe can be found at https://www.pembrokeshirecircle.org/

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

15 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.

News

Man arrested after suspected drugs-related death in Haverfordwest

Published

15 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Police say death not suspicious as 46-year-old arrested over alleged Class A drug supply

A MAN has died following a medical emergency at a property in Haverfordwest, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called at 3:18pm on Wednesday (March 18) after a report of a medical incident.

A man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.

However, police confirmed that a man, aged 46, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

He has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

No further details about the deceased have been formally released.

Crime

Illegal dog breeders ordered to pay over £129,000 after council probe

Published

16 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOUR people from Mynyddygarreg, Kidwelly, have been ordered to pay more than £129,000 following a successful prosecution for illegal dog breeding.

At Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Mar 10), before His Honour Judge Thomas KC, Stacey May June Edwards, Peter John Edwards, Sian Eleri Thomas and David Malcolm James Thomas, all of Sea Breeze, Mynyddygarreg, pleaded guilty to offences under the Breeding of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2014.

The court imposed confiscation orders totalling £129,873.41 under the Proceeds of Crime Act across the four defendants. They were also ordered to pay £8,000 in costs, while each defendant received a £2,000 fine.

The investigation began in April 2021 after Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Health team received an enquiry from Peter Edwards about obtaining a dog breeding licence. Although licensing guidance was provided and a partial application was submitted in February 2022, this was later withdrawn.

In March 2024, the council received a complaint that puppies were being advertised for sale without the required licence. Officers subsequently contacted online advertising platforms and issued data requests to assess the scale of activity.

Analysis of records from Pets4Homes, Freeads and Gumtree revealed multiple litters being advertised by members of the same household.

Correspondence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act confirmed that up to 25 dogs were kept at the property, including between 16 and 19 breeding females.

While some defendants claimed joint ownership of the dogs, others attempted to minimise their involvement.

The Herald understands that numerous puppy advertisements were posted between July 2020 and April 2025, demonstrating a sustained pattern of unlicensed breeding.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “This case demonstrates the council’s firm stance against unlicensed and illegal dog breeding.

“These regulations are in place to protect animal welfare and ensure that breeding activities are subject to proper oversight. The scale of activity uncovered at this property was entirely unacceptable, and we welcome the court’s decision to issue significant confiscation orders under POCA.”

He added: “We urge anyone with concerns about illegal dog breeding to report it. Our Animal Health officers will continue to investigate thoroughly and take action against those who disregard the law.”

Residents are reminded that anyone breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect both animal welfare and consumers.