News

Busy period for Angle RNLI continues with three callouts

Published

2 years ago

August 9, 2023

Angle All-Weather Lifeboat Responds Swiftly to Distress Call

IN THE EARLY hours of this morning, at 4:58am, Angle’s diligent RNLI crew received an urgent summons, propelling them into action once more. This time, the distress signal emanated from a French yacht in perilous waters. The vessel had encountered a harrowing collision with The Smalls Lighthouse and was grappling with a perilous breach, leaving six souls on board at the mercy of the sea’s unrelenting ingress. The yacht’s own bilge pumps were valiantly struggling against the deluge.

Undaunted by the early hour, the lifeboat sprung into action, its engines roaring to life as it raced towards the beleaguered vessel. The call for aid also reached the capable hands of St. David’s All-Weather Lifeboat and the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R924, stationed at the ready in Newquay, Cornwall. Mid-route, a request was dispatched by the coastguard to have the lifeboat’s salvage pump prepared.

Minutes elapsed, and Angle’s resolute lifeboat drew alongside St. David’s vessel at the scene of the maritime crisis. The situation was meticulously assessed, and a decision was swiftly reached. With the knowledge that the stricken yacht’s intended course lay towards Milford Haven, the tacticians on scene determined that Angle’s crew, bolstered by their trusty salvage pump, should be the first to transfer aboard the troubled vessel. Should further assistance become necessary, the capable hands of St. David’s Lifeboat and R924 stood ready to extend their aid.

With two valiant crew members and the formidable salvage pump safely aboard, the dire situation was met head-on. The relentless tide of water invading the yacht’s confines was finally tamed, brought under control by the relentless efforts of Angle’s crew. Sensing that the immediate danger was assuaged and all souls on board were accounted for, the steadfast teams of St. David’s Lifeboat and R924 were relieved from their posts and returned to their respective ports, departing with gratitude.

Assured that the ship’s stability was regained and its passengers out of harm’s way, the lifeboat began a steady three-and-a-half-hour escort to Neyland, where the proficient crew at Dale Sailing eagerly awaited, poised to hoist the beleaguered yacht from the treacherous waters.

As the convoy reached the sheltered embrace of Watwick Bay, the lifeboat once again sidled up to the yacht’s flank, this time replenishing it with the necessary fuel and vital supplies for the final leg of the journey to Neyland. The maritime ballet continued until Neyland was reached, where the joint efforts of the crew and the adept staff at Dale Sailing culminated in a successful hoisting of the yacht, drawing it to safety above the waves.

As the vessel swung free above the marina waters, a well-earned pause ensued. The lifeboat nestled in the harbor, a warm gesture in the form of bacon rolls awaiting one of the crew members who had been patiently stationed there.

With the mission accomplished and a vessel rescued, the lifeboat eventually returned to its home port, its dedication unwavering. By 11am, the vessel stood ready to respond to the call of duty once again.

Triple Distress Calls in Two Days

This saga of bravery and expertise didn’t stand alone. The preceding Friday, the 3rd of August, at precisely 3:32pm, Angle’s intrepid crew received yet another cry for help. A 10-meter aluminium landing craft, burdened with six souls, was thrust into jeopardy due to an unfortunate dual engine failure. The vessel’s plight was further compounded by ensnaring its propellers in an errant rope, rendering the engines impotent and leaving the craft to helplessly drift towards the menacing rocks of West Angle Bay.

As the emergency call echoed through the air, the lifeboat once again sprang into action, racing toward West Angle with the urgency that only an experienced crew can muster. On arrival, a local charter angling vessel gallantly offered aid, holding the fort until the stalwart lifeboat could take its place.

A meticulously executed towline was rigged, expertly linking the two vessels. With the casualties’ anchor disengaged, the towline was transferred, and the lifeboat commenced its noble task, guiding the stranded vessel towards Neyland. As the convoy neared Neyland Marina, a precise maneuver shifted the vessel into an alongside tow, aligning it with the awaiting pontoon at Dale Sailing, where the vessel would find its much-needed respite.

As the sun began its descent, the lifeboat and its dedicated crew stood down, returning to their station, the day’s challenges met and conquered. By 6pm, the lifeboat was poised, ever-ready for its next great maritime trial.

Another Successful Rescue Operation

The day before the aforementioned rescue, on Thursday, the 3rd of August, Angle’s All-Weather Lifeboat was beckoned to action once more at 5:36pm. A plea for assistance echoed over the waves, emanating from a small speedboat that had fallen victim to mechanical woes. With four souls and two loyal canine companions on board, the vessel was left adrift, its location uncertain but perilous – somewhere between Dale and Angle.

Responding with characteristic swiftness, the lifeboat set course for Dale, its crew determined to locate and aid the distressed vessel. Their efforts proved fruitful, culminating in the discovery of the stricken boat anchored in the safety of Watwick Bay. A sigh of relief swept through the crew as all aboard were accounted for and in good health. Once the safety of the stranded vessel was assured, a towline was established, and the lifeboat guided the vessel up the Haven to East Llanion, ensuring its safe return.

With the mission accomplished and another triumph secured, the lifeboat returned to its berth, its readiness for further service reaffirmed. The echoes of its recent successes resonated within its steel hull, a testament to the unwavering dedication of Angle’s RNLI crew.

Crime

Swansea man dies weeks after release from troubled HMP Parc: Investigation launched

Published

5 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A SWANSEA man has died just weeks after being released from HMP Parc, the Bridgend prison now at the centre of a national crisis over inmate deaths and post-release failures.

Darren Thomas, aged 52, died on 13 November 2025 — less than a month after leaving custody. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) has confirmed an independent investigation into his death, which is currently listed as “in progress”.

Born on 9 April 1973, Mr Thomas had been under post-release supervision following a period at HMP/YOI Parc, the G4S-run prison that recorded seventeen deaths in custody in 2024 — the highest in the UK.

His last known legal appearance was at Swansea Crown Court in October 2024, where he stood trial accused of making a threatening phone call and two counts of criminal damage. During the hearing, reported by The Pembrokeshire Herald at the time, the court heard he made threats during a heated call on 5 October 2023.

Mr Thomas denied the allegations but was found guilty on all counts. He was sentenced to a custodial term, which led to his imprisonment at HMP Parc.

Parc: A prison in breakdown

HMP Parc has faced sustained criticism throughout 2024 and 2025. A damning unannounced inspection in January found:

Severe self-harm incidents up 190%
Violence against staff up 109%
Synthetic drugs “easily accessible” across wings
Overcrowding at 108% capacity

In the first three months of 2024 alone, ten men died at Parc — part of a wider cluster of twenty PPO-investigated deaths since 2022. Six occurred within three weeks, all linked to synthetic drug use.

Leaked staff messages in 2025 exposed a culture of indifference, including one officer writing: “Let’s push him to go tomorrow so we can drop him.”

Six G4S employees have been arrested since 2023 in connection with alleged assaults and misconduct.

The danger after release

Deaths shortly after release from custody are a growing national concern. Ministry of Justice data shows 620 people died while under community supervision in 2024–2025, with 62 deaths occurring within 14 days of release.

Short sentences — common at Parc — leave little time for effective rehabilitation or release planning. Homelessness, loss of drug tolerance and untreated mental-health conditions create a high-risk environment for those newly released.

The PPO investigates all such deaths to determine whether prisons or probation failed in their duties. Reports often take 6–12 months and can lead to recommendations.

A system at breaking point

The crisis at Parc reflects wider failures across UK prisons and probation. A July 2025 House of Lords report described the service as “not fit for purpose”. More than 500 people die in custody annually, with campaigners warning that private prisons such as Parc prioritise cost-cutting over care.

The PPO investigation into the death of Darren Thomas continues.

Crime

Woman stabbed partner in Haverfordwest before handing herself in

Published

6 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Court Reporter

A WOMAN who stabbed her partner during a drug-fuelled episode walked straight into Haverfordwest Police Station and told officers what she had done, Swansea Crown Court has heard.

Amy Woolston, 22, of Dartmouth Street in Milford Haven, arrived at the station at around 8:00pm on June 13 and said: “I stabbed my ex-partner earlier… he’s alright and he let me walk off,” prosecutor Tom Scapens told the court.

The pair had taken acid together earlier in the day, and Woolston claimed she believed she could feel “stab marks in her back” before the incident.

Police find victim with four wounds

Officers went to the victim’s home to check on him. He was not there at first, but returned shortly afterwards. He appeared sober and told police: “Just a couple of things,” before pointing to injuries on his back.

He had three stab or puncture wounds to his back and another to his bicep.

The victim said that when he arrived home from the shop, Woolston was acting “a bit shifty”. After asking if she was alright, she grabbed something from the windowsill — described as either a knife or a shard of glass — and stabbed him.

He told officers he had “had worse from her before”, did not support a prosecution, and refused to go to hospital.

Defendant has long history of violence

Woolston pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding. The court heard she had amassed 20 previous convictions from 10 court appearances, including assaults, battery, and offences against emergency workers.

Defending, Dyfed Thomas said Woolston had longstanding mental health problems and had been off medication prescribed for paranoid schizophrenia at the time.
“She’s had a difficult upbringing,” he added, saying she was remorseful and now compliant with treatment.

Woolston was jailed for 12 months, but the court heard she has already served the equivalent time on remand and will be released imminently on a 12-month licence.

News

BBC apologises to Herald’s editor for inaccurate story

Published

7 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Staff Writer

THE BBC has issued a formal apology and amended a six-year-old article written by BBC Wales Business Correspondent Huw Thomas after its Executive Complaints Unit ruled that the original headline and wording gave an “incorrect impression” that Herald editor Tom Sinclair was personally liable for tens of thousands of pounds in debt.

The 2019 report, originally headlined “Herald newspaper editor Tom Sinclair has £70,000 debts”, has now been changed.

The ECU found: “The wording of the article and its headline could have led readers to form the incorrect impression that the debt was Mr Sinclair’s personal responsibility… In that respect the article failed to meet the BBC’s standards of due accuracy.”

Mr Sinclair said: “I’m grateful to the ECU for the apology and for correcting the personal-liability impression that caused real harm for six years. However, the article still links the debts to ‘the group which publishes The Herald’ when in fact they related to printing companies that were dissolved two years before the Herald was founded in 2013. I have asked the BBC to add that final clarification so the record is completely accurate.”

A formal apology and correction of this kind from the BBC is extremely rare, especially for a story more than six years old.