News
The Ironmen of Pembrokeshire College
THIS YEAR’s IRONMAN event proved that Pembrokeshire College staff not only work hard but can play exceptionally hard too.
Tenby’s long-distance triathlon saw College IT Development Team Leader, John Goy, compete in the race for the second time. Completing a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run in an impressive 11 hours and 17 minutes – his personal best to date, finishing 55 minutes faster than his previous race!
John praised the crowds of supporters who buoyed him up along the way, saying: “I’m sure I speak for everyone who is so grateful for the crowds who gather along the route. The race is a battle of survival for us all and the amount of support is truly amazing, it’s what got me through.”
Despite holding out and completing the race, John was quickly taken to the medical tent where he received treatment for hypothermia by St. John’s Ambulance. In spite of the blip at the end of the race, now fully recovered, John can bask in his achievement: “For anyone thinking that it’s too hard or too far, I’d quote the Ironman man motto which is: Anything is Possible and I’m proof of that!”
College Sports Lecturer, Lee Gibbons didn’t take part in the race but worked tirelessly in the Sports Therapy tent, administering over 500 treatments to Ironman athletes. Working alongside a former Sports Massage student, Julie Barritt and another two therapists, Lloyd Davies and Sandi Patchen, the team worked hard throughout the weekend to ease the pain of the athletes who took part. Lee was excited to be involved in the event for the first time, he said: “The athletes are incredible! I admire their dedication and not just their physical strength but their mental willpower too. What an event!”
College Plumbing Lecturer, Nicky Rees also took part in the triathlon race for the sixth time in Wales. Finishing in 12 hours and 40 minutes was no mean feat after completing the Otillo Swimrun World Championship in Sweden only two weeks earlier! The Otillo Swimrun involves racing from Sandhamn to Uto via 24 islands, running across the islands and swimming between them to complete the race.
Crowned Ironman for the tenth time, having completed four other Ironman challenges in Austria, Bolton, Norway and Switzerland, Nicky is still eager to take part in Ironman Wales in 2017, commenting, “I must be mad but I’ll be taking part again next year if my body lets me!”
Pembrokeshire College would like to congratulate everyone who took part, especially to Lee and Nicky who are keen to sign-up to be involved in Ironman Wales next year.
Crime
Recycling company brought before Judge after JCB crushes employee
A PEMBROKESHIRE-BASED recycling company has been brought before a district judge after an employee was seriously injured by a JCB loading shovel.
TBS Recycling and Skip Hire appeared before Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest magistrates court earlier this week when company director, Steven Thomas, pleaded guilty to failing to discharge general health, safety and welfare duties to an employee.
The incident occurred on March 31, 2021, at the TBS recycling and skip hire unit which is situated at the Waterston Industrial Estate, between Neyland and Milford Haven.
“An employee of the company was working on the site when he spotted something caught in the wheel of a four-ton JCB,” commented a lawyer for the Health and Safety Executive.
“He went to clear it and the person who was in the [JCB] driving seat knew he was doing it. But he was distracted and believed the other employee had left. So he lowered the shovel, but it crushed him.”
As a result, the employee sustained crushed ribs and damage to his lungs and breathing.
“But he’s since made a good recovery,” said the Health and Safety Executive lawyer.
Steven Thomas, of Cross Farm, Walwyns Castle Road, Ties Cross, will be sentenced by Judge Layton when he sits at Llanelli Magistrates Court on June 6.
Crime
Pembrokeshire car salesman caught driving on cocaine
A PEMBROKESHIRE car salesman has appeared before a District Judge after being caught driving a cream BMW through Kilgetty after taking cocaine.
Fraser Finlay was stopped by police officers on the night of October 3, 2023, as he drove the vehicle along Clayford Road in Wooden.
The officers’ suspicions had been aroused when the trade insurance which covered his vehicle failed to show up on their system.
A roadside breath test was carried out which proved positive and Finlay, 25, was conveyed to a police custody suite where further blood tests were carried out for analysis.
These showed he had 20ug/L of cocaine in his system; the legal threshold limit is 10. He was also found to have 800 ug/L of the cocaine derivative benzoylecgonine in his system; the legal limit is 50.
“This conviction means that my client is most likely to see an end to his job,” his solicitor, David Williams, informed District Judge Mark Layton sitting at Haverfordwest magistrates court earlier this week.
“This is because he works as a car salesman.”
Finlay was disqualified from driving for 17 months. He was fined £450 and ordered to pay a £180 court surcharge and £85 costs.
News
Pembrokeshire hostel manager narrowly avoids jail sentence
A FORMER Pembrokeshire homeless hostel manager narrowly avoided a jail sentence this week after a District Judge was shown footage of her kicking a defenceless man as he lay drunk on the floor.
Linda Tysoe, 52, was seen walking over to Shaun Nelmes and kick him repeatedly. She was also seen hurling a can of tomatoes at his head.
As a result, Mr Nelmes sustained extensive lacerations to his face; images of his injuries were shown to the judge.
“The defendant admits the seriousness of her actions and she can see that they look aggressive,” probation officer Charmain Fox told District Judge Mark Layton when he sat at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court earlier this week.
“But over the last seven years, there have been many incidents of a domestic nature where the defendant was the victim. That night, she saw red and her actions were completely out of character.”
The assault took place on the night of October 1 when Mr Nelmes arrived at Linda Tysoe’s home. CCTV video footage shown to the court that was retrieved from her mobile phone showed that he was heavily intoxicated.
“He was extremely intoxicated, so she asked him to leave,” continued Ms Fox.
“When he left, he then tried to gain entry into the homeless hostel which the defendant was managing. She received calls from residents saying that he was outside, so again she tried to remove him but she saw red. She wanted to make clear that his behaviour was completely out of order.”
Ms Fox said that as a result of the attack, Tysoe has now lost her job.
“She is currently living in a caravan outside the family home,” she said.
Tysoe pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm. She was legally represented in court by solicitor Mr Michael Kelleher.
“My client has no previous convictions but she was the victim in previous matters involving the complainant [Shaun Nelmes],” he said.
“At the time this offence was committed, he was on a prison licence for assaulting her.”
Tysoe was sentenced to 16 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months. She was ordered to complete 15 rehabilitation requirement days and must pay £85 court costs and a £154 surcharge.
“On October 1 last year your relationship came to an end and clearly something happened that night which caused this vicious and violent incident,” said District Judge Mark Layton when imposing sentence.
“You kicked him on the floor and threw a can at him which is believed to have been a full can of tomatoes that caused significant injury to his face. This crosses the custody threshold.”
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