News

Smoking ban in cars carrying children

Published

11 years ago

October 31, 2014

PEOPLE in Wales could face a £50 on-the-spot fi ne if the Welsh Government is to ban smoking in cars carrying children. A six-week consultation on the plans, which were fi rst announced by the First Minister and Health Minister in July, is being launched today (Sept 11).

The move is aimed to protect the health of children and young people from the harm associated with exposure to second-hand smoke when travelling in private vehicles. Smoking causes serious harm to the health of smokers and to nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke. It continues to be the largest single preventable cause of ill health and premature death in Wales, causing around 5,450 deaths in Wales in 2010.

Under proposed changes to legislation in Wales, it would be an offence to: Smoke in a private vehicle when children under the age of 18 are present; As the driver of a vehicle, fail to prevent smoking in a private vehicle when someone under the age of 18 present. Enforcement of the new law will largely be taken forward by police offi cers in conjunction with their wider functions on road safety.

It is intended that the change in the law will come into force in 2015. Welsh Ministers are also consulting about whether the Welsh Government should legislate in the future to prohibit the use of e-cigarettes in private vehicles carrying children under 18. First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “Children and young people have the right to breathe clean air and enjoy smoke-free environments. Protecting children from exposure to second-hand smoke will help give them the best start in life. “Exposure to second-hand smoke is a substantial threat to children’s health; it can leave them vulnerable to a variety of health conditions such as lower respiratory tract infections, asthma, middle ear disease and other serious infections.

Some people light up in their cars without thinking and believe that opening the window will help disperse the smoke; however it simply blows back into the car. Children cannot escape from the toxic chemicals contained in second-hand smoke when travelling in vehicles.” Health Minister Mark Drakeford said: “We are today setting out our specifi c plans to ban people from smoking in private vehicles when children under the age of 18 are present. Our aim is to protect the health of children and young people from the harm associated with exposure to second-hand smoke when travelling in private vehicles.

We believe the most effective way to eliminate this harm is to legislate to prohibit smoking in private vehicles when children under the age of 18 are present. He added: “Changing the law would protect children from the health harms associated with exposure to second-hand smoke in private vehicles, encourage action by smokers to protect children from second-hand smoke and lead to a reduction in health conditions in children caused by exposure to second-hand smoke.”

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

14 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

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.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

37 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

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.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

43 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

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.