Michael Carruthers was described as “shaking and shivering” at Parc Prison before court appearance was adjourned

CONCERN was raised for a Pembroke Dock prisoner after he was unable to appear before magistrates by video link from Parc Prison.

Michael Carruthers, 34, was due to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning charged with assaulting a police officer by beating.

The alleged offence is said to have taken place in Haverfordwest on April 24.

But prison staff told the court Carruthers was not in a fit state to appear by live link from the Bridgend prison.

“After being taken out from his cell, he sat shaking and shivering on the floor and was holding his head in his hands,” a prison officer told the court.

“His head isn’t really in it.”

When asked whether Carruthers had been seen by a prison medic, prison staff confirmed he had not.

Defending, solicitor Tom Lloyd said Carruthers’ behaviour was consistent with his medical history.

“He’s appeared before this court many times before, but he’s severely autistic and has PTSD,” said Mr Lloyd.

“He has severe issues. When the prison officers described the way in which he is today, it’s clear that today came as a particular shock to him, as the first he learned of today’s court appearance was this morning.”

Mr Lloyd asked for the case to be adjourned so he could speak to Carruthers and prepare him for his next appearance.

Magistrates agreed, and the case was adjourned until July 14.

The court’s legal adviser stressed the importance of Carruthers attending the next hearing.

“People can’t hide by being in prison,” she said.

“If he’s deliberately refusing to come to court, then he must be physically brought here by the prison staff.”

Darren Claypole spared immediate jail after victim said he thought he was going to die

A MAN with cerebral palsy told a court he thought he was going to die after he was intentionally strangled by a 52-year-old man he had allowed to stay at his home.

Reece Moulder said he remains “genuinely scared” of Darren Claypole following the attack, which left him temporarily unable to breathe.

In a victim personal statement read to Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Mr Moulder described his fear during the incident.

“I’m genuinely scared of him,” he said.

“I know that when he was previously in prison he tied up a cellmate, so what he did to me terrified me.

“I was very concerned about what he’s capable of doing and I genuinely thought I was going to die.”

The court heard that Claypole, 52, who is of no fixed abode, had been allowed to stay at the property with Mr Moulder and several other flatmates because he was homeless.

But on March 2, after Claypole returned to the address, an argument broke out over food.

Crown prosecutor Sian Vaughan said Claypole became aggressive towards those inside the property.

“The defendant got aggressive and began screaming and shouting at them, and called Mr Moulder a rat,” she said.

“He then put his hands aggressively around Mr Moulder’s throat, placing his thumbs on his airways so hard he was unable to breathe.

“The victim was very concerned about what the defendant was capable of doing and thought he was going to die.”

The Crown added that Mr Moulder suffers from cerebral palsy.

Following his arrest, Claypole directed further aggression towards police officers, calling them offensive names.

“When he was put in custody he kicked and head-butted the door of the holding cell and threatened the officer, saying he was going to bite his nose off,” said Ms Vaughan.

“He then started kicking his legs out at the desk and began screaming and spitting at one of the officers, with the spit landing on the top of his head and in his hair.”

Claypole admitted intentionally strangling Reece Moulder, assaulting an officer in the execution of his duty, and assaulting another individual by beating.

Defending, solicitor Molly Turner said Claypole was remorseful for his actions and had been struggling with homelessness.

“He’s moved around considerably, largely for his own safety, and following his last prison release he’s been doing exceptionally well,” she said.

“He’s currently living in a tent but is considered a gold band priority to be re-housed, and is hopeful he’ll have a place before the autumn.”

Ms Turner said Claypole was willing to engage with the probation service and any other support agencies available to him.

After considering a detailed probation report, magistrates sentenced Claypole to nine months in custody, suspended for two years.

He must also complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and a 12-month alcohol treatment requirement.

Claypole was ordered to pay a total of £1,622 in compensation to his three victims and court costs.

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has promised a new focus on delivery as it seeks to secure the future of the Welsh language and reach its target of one million Welsh speakers.

Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language Anna Brychan told the Senedd on Tuesday (July 7) that the Government would now move from “ambition to action” after years of discussion about how best to strengthen Cymraeg across Wales.

At the heart of the plan is a commitment to build a clearer Welsh-medium education pathway, from childcare and the early years through to post-16 learning.

Ministers say the Welsh Language and Education Act will be implemented in full, with the aim of ensuring every child has a fair opportunity to become a confident and independent Welsh speaker.

An urgent review of Welsh in Education Strategic Plans is already under way. Its findings will shape a new national framework designed to ensure that half of all children in Wales begin their education journey through the medium of Welsh by 2050.

The Welsh language will also form part of the Government’s planned childcare offer, which will provide 20 hours of funded childcare each week for every child aged between nine months and four years.

Ms Brychan said the aim was to make Welsh-medium provision available from the earliest stages of a child’s life, while also expanding opportunities for teenagers and young adults to continue learning, working and living through Welsh after the age of 16.

The announcement will be closely watched in west Wales, where Welsh-speaking communities remain a vital part of local identity but where concerns have been raised for many years about housing, migration, school reorganisation, transport, employment and the long-term sustainability of the language in daily life.

The Welsh Government says work has already begun with local authorities to decide how areas with a higher density of Welsh speakers should be formally designated, with the aim of strengthening everyday use of the language in those communities.

Ministers are also looking at further legal and non-legal measures to support Welsh-speaking areas in the long term.

However, the Government says its plans are not limited to traditional Welsh-speaking heartlands. It says the language must also grow in areas where there are currently lower or medium levels of Welsh speakers.

A cross-government response is being developed following the second phase of the Commission for Welsh Communities.

Ms Brychan said responsibility for the language could not sit with one minister or department alone. She said housing, health, transport, the economy, local government, culture and sport all had a role to play in meeting the target.

The Minister also confirmed that Welsh language standards will be extended to new sectors, including UK Government bodies.

She said she is writing to major technology companies to press them to ensure new digital developments support the Welsh language, amid growing concern that artificial intelligence and online platforms could either help or hinder minority languages.

Work is also under way to standardise and record Welsh place names, while options for protecting them in law are being explored.

Ms Brychan said: “People from all parts of Wales are proud of our language and want to see it thrive.

“Cymraeg belongs to us all, and we should move away from seeing ourselves as ‘Welsh-speaking’ and ‘non-Welsh-speaking’ Welsh people. We are all somewhere on the same journey, and we all belong.

“The existing goodwill and ambition provide us with a strong foundation, but the challenges are real and the coming years will be critical.

“Our focus now is on turning ambition into action and securing the strongest possible future for the Welsh language in our schools, our communities and our workplaces. We have already started this work within our first 100 days.”

She added: “The future of the Welsh language depends on people as well as policy. I encourage everyone to use whatever Welsh they have, to support one another in learning and using the language, and to play their part in building a Wales where the Welsh language belongs to us all.”

The Welsh Government’s long-standing ambition is to reach one million Welsh speakers by 2050. The latest announcement signals that ministers want to put education, childcare, community planning and digital policy at the centre of that effort.

For many communities, the key question will now be whether the Government can turn those commitments into practical change, including enough teachers, childcare staff, post-16 courses, affordable housing and local job opportunities to make Welsh a living language for the next generation.