News
Haverfordwest: Amy Rees jailed…and then released
A HAVERFORDWEST woman who stabbed a woman she was in a relationship with and ended up being Tasered by police has been jailed for nine months today.
But 22-year-old Amy Rees was told she would be released immediately because of the time she had spent in jail waiting to be sentenced.
Rees, who stays at a women’s refuge in Haverfordwest when not in jail, admitted assaulting Ceri Elizabeth Lee causing her actual bodily harm, criminal damage, possessing a sharp article in a public place and possessing a small amount of ecstasy.
Stephen Rees, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday (Apri 22) how a row developed between the two women at Miss Lee’s home in Goodwick on January 30.
Rees thought she was texting a former partner and grabbed hold of her mobile telephone before throwing it against a wall in the living room and smashing it.
Rees then took hold of a large two pronged kitchen fork and told Miss Lee, “I’m going to kill you. Your kids will find you dead on the sofa.”
But instead of attacking Miss Lee Rees began stabbing her own hand.
Miss Lee left to get help from a neighbour, but without success. When she returned Rees pushed her against a wall and stabbed her in the leg with the fork.
Rees then left, but told Miss Lee, “Don’t think this is over. I’m coming back to kill you.”
Mr Rees said Rees then sent a text message to a friend, Joshua Stephens, in which she again said she would kill Miss Lee.
Mr Stephens then telephoned Rees and was still on the telephone when police officers arrived.
WPC Eleri Rees took over the conversation and persuaded Rees to meet her in a Tesco car park.
When they met the officer tasered Rees to prevent her from stabbing herself.
Mr Rees said Rees already had a long record for violence, which included eight assaults on police officers.
Her barrister, Carina Hughes, said she accepted her relationship with Miss Lee was now over.
Rees, she said, had had difficulties with drugs and alcohol but was trying to overcome them.
The Judge, Mr Justice Knowles, said Rees’ behaviour could have had very serious consequences.
But he wished her good luck in her fight against drugs and alcohol.
Mr Justice Knowles also issued a restraining order banning Rees was going to Goodwick or contacting Miss Lee.
Business
Stephen Crabb leads inquiry on retaining community bank services
PRESELI Pembrokeshire MP, and Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee Stephen Crabb is leading an inquiry in Parliament that will investigate the closure of high street banks in Wales, as well as access to cash.
In November 2023, Pembrokeshire saw the closure of Lloyds Bank in St Davids, and in the coming months both Barclays Bank and Halifax in Haverfordwest are set to close. In recent years, Wales has experienced a rapid decline in the number of high street banking services available to the public. Already in 2024, 23 high street bank closures have been announced in Wales, while automated teller machines (ATMs) declined by nearly a quarter between 2018 and 2023.
The Committee willconsider how declining high street banking services are impacting vulnerable people and small businesses across Wales, who are often more reliant on cash than digital banking. It will also examine how Wales is being affected by the loss of high street bank services, and whether the problem is worse in Wales than other parts of the UK.
Mr Crabb is a staunch advocate for retaining community banking facilities, especially in rural communities like Pembrokeshire where many local branches remain the only source of face-to-face banking provision for miles.
Recently Mr Crabb challenged Barclays Bank senior management on their decision to close the bank branch in Haverfordwest– a move that will see Barclays not only pull out of the county town, but means they won’t have a branch left anywhere in Pembrokeshire. He has also engaged with LINK – the UK’s largest cash machine network – and continues to campaign on the basis that a Banking Hub is established and that ATM machines should be retained or installed, especially in areas worst affected by the closures.
Following the launch of the inquiry, MP Crabb added: “It is really sad to see so many banks across Wales closing as online banking grows in popularity. Despite the advantages of online banking, for a rural community with an ageing population like Pembrokeshire, bank branches hold huge importance as they offer face-to-face customer service.”
“I am acutely aware of the inconvenience that the bank closures locally have already caused following hundreds of replies from constituents to my ‘online banking survey’ ”
“I am looking forward to gathering further evidence on this subject through the committee’s inquiry, and will continue to put pressure on the relevant stakeholders to ensure that adequate alternative provisions are made through the establishment of banking hubs as well as the instalment of ATM machines where necessary.”
“In this inquiry, we are particularly keen to hear from those likely to be directly affected by the shift away from cash and physical banks. I encourage anyone with first-hand experience of losing banking services to give evidence to the Committee”
Business
Trains resume between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock as works end
TRAIN services resumed this morning (Thursday 28 March) after ten days of essential round-the-clock work to upgrade track and drainage between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock.
The railway was closed from Monday 18 March to Wednesday 27 March to allow Network Rail teams to replace more than 200 metres of track and 300 tonnes of ballast (track stones) between Pembroke station and Pembroke Dock.
Work to improve the drainage between Narbeth and Kilgetty stations was also completed at the same time.
Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “This essential work in Pembrokeshire demonstrates our commitment to improving the reliability of the service we provide to passengers along our route.
“We know that replacing the track can be disruptive and very noisy, so I would like to thank the residents of Pembroke for their patience while our team carried out this crucial work.”
Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at Transport for Wales said: “We’re pleased that our colleagues in Network Rail have completed this essential work and that Transport for Wales rail services resumed today.
“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this work has progressed and look forward to welcoming passengers back in time for the Easter weekend.”
News
Welsh Water has increased sewage discharges into waterways ‘by 40%’
NEW figures released by the Environment Agency have shown that Dwr Cymru discharged sewage into waterways for a staggering 23,354 hours last year, a 40% increase on 2022.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats are now calling for tougher action against sewage dumping in Welsh waterways.
The party has also called for a halt on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have dumped sewage into waterways.
Conservative MPs have consistently voted against measures which would have helped to tackle the crisis.
The Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said: “It is a complete scandal that filthy sewage is being pumped into our nation’s rivers and waterways without consequence.
“It’s beggars’ belief that both the UK Conservative Government and the Welsh Labour government are allowing water firms to get away with this environmental vandalism.
“We as a party are calling for tougher action to stop sewage being dumped in local waterways. We have also called for a halt on bonuses for water company fat cats whose firms have pumped filth into our waterways.”
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