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Vaughan Gething faces scrutiny over campaign donations

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VAUGHAN GETHING, a candidate for the Welsh Labour leadership, has come under fire for accepting a substantial sum of £200,000 from a company led by David Neal, a businessman with a history of environmental offences.

Neal, who has been convicted twice, first faced legal action in 2013 when he received a suspended prison sentence for unlawfully disposing of waste on a conservation site. Despite this, his involvement with Gething’s campaign has raised eyebrows, particularly as the donations were made during a critical period in the leadership contest to succeed First Minister Mark Drakeford.

Gething, representing Cardiff South and Penarth, has declared the donations to the Senedd, stating his commitment to transparency. The funds were provided by Dauson Environmental Group, among others owned by Neal, and were recorded with the Electoral Commission as two separate donations of £100,000 each. One of these contributions was made shortly after Drakeford’s resignation, highlighting the timing’s potential significance.

Criticism has been vocal, especially from Lee Waters, Llanelli MS and supporter of Gething’s opponent, Jeremy Miles. Waters has condemned the donation as “completely unjustifiable and wrong,” expressing concern over the optics of such a large sum being spent on an internal election amidst a cost of living crisis.

Gething’s past acceptance of funds from Neal’s other ventures, including Atlantic Recycling and Neal Soil Suppliers, which donated a total of £38,000 in 2018, further complicates the issue. These companies, along with another Neal enterprise, Resources Management UK Ltd, have faced legal and regulatory challenges, including fines and actions by Natural Resources Wales for environmental violations.

Despite these controversies, Gething’s campaign has defended the legitimacy and transparency of the donations, emphasising their adherence to electoral regulations and Gething’s pledge to enforce stricter environmental penalties.

The debate over these donations comes at a pivotal moment for Welsh Labour, prompting discussions on the ethics of political funding and the implications for environmental policy.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

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A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

  • Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
  • Common assault
  • Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

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Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

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Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

  • Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
  • A second count of assault
  • Criminal damage
  • An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
  • A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

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Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

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Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

  • Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
  • Intentional non-fatal strangulation
  • Common assault on a woman
  • Criminal damage in a domestic context
  • Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
  • Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.

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