Llandysul man admits part in illegal dog breeding racket

Court confession

Thomas John Jones, of Prengwyn near Llandysul, stood before Swansea Crown Court and admitted knowingly joining the fraudulent business between March 2015, when he was just 17, and November 2023.

Prosecutors told the court Jones was involved in hiding the true identity of dogs being sold and producing false paperwork to mislead unsuspecting buyers.

Part of a wider network

His guilty plea is just one strand of a much larger case. Trading standards officers from across Wales have spent years investigating the racket, which they say involved multiple players across Llandysul and beyond.

Among those accused is Sara Pritchard Davies, 28, a former winner of S4C’s Can i Gymru, who will stand trial alongside Euros Davies, 60, a councillor from Llanybydder. They are joined by Rhydian Davies, 28, also from Prengwyn, Delyth Mathias, 29, of Cardiff, and Rebecca Bailey, 30, from Llangrannog. All five deny the charges and are set to face a jury in November 2026.

Guilty pleas already entered

Jones is not the only one to admit wrongdoing. Nerys Wyn Davies of Penrhiwllan has already pleaded guilty, while David Bethell of Llandysul, Cara Barrett of Carmarthen, and David Peter Jones of Llandysul accepted responsibility and were handed cautions that will remain on their records. In contrast, Margaret Ann Jones, 71, of Llandysul, was cleared after prosecutors dropped the case against her.

Echoes in Carmarthenshire

The Llandysul case is far from isolated. Just across the county border in Carmarthenshire, Swansea Bay News has already reported on a string of prosecutions that exposed the scale of illegal dog breeding in West Wales.

In one case, a man from Pencader was ordered to repay more than £100,000 made from selling puppies without a licence, or face jail. In another, three breeders were forced to hand over £80,000 after investigators found they had been selling cocker spaniel puppies illegally. Even a Kennel Club show judge was caught up in the scandal, prosecuted by Carmarthenshire Council for unlicensed breeding.

These stories paint a picture of a region where puppy farming has thrived in the shadows, with trading standards teams warning of serious risks to animal welfare and unsuspecting buyers. The Llandysul case now adds to that growing tally, showing how deep the problem runs across rural communities in West Wales.

Trading standards crackdown

The case was brought by Ceredigion County Council and highlights the scale of illegal breeding operations in rural Wales. Investigators say fraudulent paperwork and hidden identities of dogs were central to the scheme, which left families paying thousands for animals with uncertain backgrounds.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Illegal dog breeder ordered to pay £100,000
A Pencader man was told to repay £100,000 from puppy sales or face prison.

Unlicensed breeders forced to hand over £80,000
Three Carmarthenshire breeders had thousands confiscated after selling cocker spaniel puppies without a licence.

Kennel Club show judge prosecuted
Carmarthenshire Council brought a case against a former show judge for unlicensed breeding.

Crackdown sparks call for national law overhaul
Councillors and the RSPCA demand tougher rules after a string of Carmarthenshire puppy farm prosecutions.

#animalWelfare #Carmarthen #Dogs #illegalDogBreeding #Llandysul #Llangrannog #Llanybydder #Prengwyn #prosecution #puppies #TradingStandards

Fresh cash call to bring back lost West Wales rail line

Traws Link Cymru, set up in 2013, wants to reinstate the route axed in the 1960s Beeching Cuts. They say poor roads and patchy rail links are choking Mid and West Wales, leaving communities cut off and opportunities wasted.

“Realising the potential of this region requires vision, planning and inward investment. But the poor communications network remains a major drawback,” the group said.

‘Kick‑start regeneration’

The campaign argues new tracks would kick‑start economic and social regeneration, opening up tourism, agriculture and small industries. They point to three university campuses, the National Library of Wales, the Royal Commission for Ancient and Historic Monuments, and S4C’s headquarters — all hampered by poor transport.

Supporters say journeys of less than 50 miles can take hours, underlining the lack of direct north‑south connectivity.

Political row over the line

The future of the route has become a political flashpoint. Plaid Senedd member, Adam Price has accused ministers of failing to act and warned the project is at risk unless the Welsh Government formally protects the corridor from development.

“It is not acceptable for the Welsh Government to essentially wash their hands of this commitment. They are dragging their feet and putting this whole project at risk.”

A feasibility study in 2018 put the cost of reopening at £775 million, but campaigners argue little progress has been made since. More recent estimates suggest the bill could rise to around £2 billion. Critics say it’s a huge price tag with no guarantee of political backing. Campaigners counter that the benefits — jobs, investment and national cohesion — would outweigh the costs.

Transport Secretary Ken Skates has pushed back, warning that land protections could harm communities.

“Putting land protections in place for the reopening of sections of railway lines can risk creating blight to landowners, it can have a potential economic cost to communities, and there would also be the obvious ongoing resourcing cost to maintain the protections.”

He added that reopening remains a longer‑term option, subject to full value‑for‑money tests.

Local voices demand action

Community campaigner and independent Senedd candidate for Caerfyrddin, Carl Peters‑Bond, says the time for delay is over.

“This rail link should have been rebuilt decades ago. Communities across West Wales have been left waiting while investment pours into Cardiff and the Valleys.”

He said stations at Llandysul, Llanybydder and Lampeter must be part of the plan to serve towns that have been overlooked.

“People are tired of political point‑scoring. What we need now is real investment in infrastructure that connects our communities, supports local businesses, and gives young people a reason to stay in West Wales.”

Carl added that the project is about fairness as much as transport.

“If we want a stronger, fairer Wales, we need to stop talking and start building. West Wales deserves the same opportunities as the rest of the country — and that starts with laying tracks.”

Traws Link Cymru say their crowdfunding page is live at JustGiving, with donations going towards campaign costs including meetings, advertising and lobbying.

https://vimeo.com/103641050?fl=pl&fe=sh

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Renewed calls to reopen Aberystwyth to Carmarthen rail link
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New evening buses added to Aberystwyth–Carmarthen route
Transport for Wales expands TrawsCymru T1/T1X services to improve evening and weekend links between Aberystwyth, Lampeter and Carmarthen.

Carmarthen–Aberystwyth route sees 65% passenger growth
Electric TrawsCymru buses deliver a sharp rise in ridership, underscoring demand for stronger north–south connections.

Improved Carmarthen–Aberystwyth bus route a hit with passengers
Over 100,000 journeys recorded since the all‑electric relaunch, highlighting appetite for better regional transport links.

#Aberystwyth #AdamPriceMS #CarlPetersBond #Carmarthen #CarmarthenToAberystwythRailLink #KenSkatesMS #Lampeter #Llandysul #Llanybydder #railInvestment #railLink #TrawsLinkCymru #WestWalesRail

Penguin’s ‘Little Book Stops’ arrive in Ferryside, Llanybydder and Mayals

Ferryside in Carmarthenshire, Llanybydder in Carmarthenshire, and Mayals in Swansea are among just seven locations in Wales chosen from more than 2,000 public nominations for the community book‑sharing boxes.

The initiative, run in partnership with US non‑profit Little Free Library, will see 90 of the distinctive Penguin‑branded boxes installed across the UK during September. Each will operate on a simple “give a book, take a book” basis, with a local volunteer steward looking after the stock.

Local sites chosen

In Ferryside, the Little Book Stop will be based at the village’s independent lifeboat station, which has been run entirely by volunteers since 1835.

Llanybydder’s book stop will be installed at the bandstand on Station Terrace, while in Mayals the box will be located on Mayals Road.

Each stop will launch with a curated selection of children’s and adult titles from Penguin’s 90‑year history, including The Boy, The Mole, The Fox & The Horse by Charlie Mackesy, The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo, Look Up! by Nathan Bryon & Dapo Adeola, and The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson.

‘Celebrating reading and community’

Penguin’s Chief Brand Officer Rebecca Sinclair said: “Books and reading are a great way to build connections and create communities, and the sheer amount of interest we received shows just how much people are looking for this. We’re excited to see the impact the Little Book Stops have on the local communities selected.”

Little Free Library CEO Daniel Gumnit said the boxes would “spark curiosity, bring neighbours together, and make books more accessible in the communities where they’re needed most.”

The full list of UK locations will be revealed throughout September on Penguin’s website.

#books #Ferryside #Library #LittleFreeLibrary #Llanybydder #Mayals #PenguinBooks #PenguinSLittleBookStop #Swansea

New evening buses added to Aberystwyth – Carmarthen route as TfW boosts rural connections

The changes, which come into effect from 20 July, include:

• T1 service: New evening departures from Carmarthen at 6pm and 8pm, and from Aberystwyth at 7:35pm and 10:35pm
• T1X express service: A new Sunday-only departure from Aberystwyth at 8:35pm

The updated timetable is designed to better align with Sunday rail services at Carmarthen, offering smoother connections for longer-distance journeys across west Wales. The T1 route serves a mix of rural communities and tourist destinations including Lampeter, Llanybydder, Pencader and Aberaeron, while the T1X offers a faster, limited-stop service between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen.

From 31 August, passengers will also be able to purchase a new Aberystwyth–Aberaeron Day Ticket, allowing unlimited travel on both the T1 and T5 routes.

Lee Robinson, Executive Director for Regional Transport and Integration at TfW, said the changes reflect community feedback and a commitment to improving access:

“Whether you’re travelling for work, study, or leisure, these changes make it easier to get where you need to go — especially in the evenings and on weekends.”

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

£1 bus fares for young people confirmed across Wales — but questions remain over operator sign-up
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Major changes proposed to bus network ahead of 2027 reforms
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New operator and Sunday service boost for TrawsCymru T5 route
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Free bus travel scheme returns to Swansea for summer holidays
Weekend journeys free for all from 19 July to 31 August — saving families up to £20 a day.

Context: wider reforms ahead

The announcement comes as Wales prepares for major changes to its bus network, with the Welsh Government planning to introduce bus franchising from 2027, starting in South West Wales. Under the new model, decisions about routes, timetables, fares and service standards will be made by the public sector, with operators bidding to run services under contract.

The aim is to create a simpler, more reliable and better-integrated network, with coordinated timetables and ticketing across bus and rail. Read more about the proposed franchising reforms.

Rail link campaign

Efforts to reopen the Carmarthen to Aberystwyth railway line have been ongoing for over a decade, led by campaign group Traws Link Cymru, which argues that restoring the route would significantly improve connectivity across west Wales.

The line, closed in 1965 during the Beeching cuts, is seen by supporters as a strategic corridor that could stimulate economic growth, tourism, and regional cohesion.

A feasibility study commissioned by the Welsh Government in 2018 found that 97% of the original trackbed remains unobstructed, suggesting that reopening is technically viable.

However, with estimated costs now exceeding £800 million, and recent statements from officials suggesting the project may be decades away from realisation, campaigners continue to press for political commitment and funding to bring the line back into use

#Aberaeron #Aberystwyth #Bus #Lampeter #Llanybydder #Pencader #T1 #T1X #T5 #Transport #TransportForWales

Carmarthenshire community groups to get up to £3,000 to enhance local green spaces

Carmarthenshire Council say the funding is available to projects located in the county’s principal centres of Carmarthen, Llanelli and Ammanford, as well as and the “Ten Towns” of Cross Hands, Cwmaman, Kidwelly, Laugharne, Llandeilo, Llandovery, Llanybydder, Newcastle Emlyn, St. Clears, and Whitland.

Gwyrddu Sir Gâr is committing £39,000 to support community-led greening initiatives, made possible through funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund with additional support from Carmarthenshire County Council. This scheme is designed to support local communities in developing greener, more resilient, and accessible outdoor spaces that benefit people, place, and nature.

Cllr Carys Jones, Carmarthenshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Planning and Community Cohesion, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for local groups to take the lead in improving their outdoor spaces and strengthening community connections. By investing in our natural environment, we are enhancing biodiversity, tackling climate challenges, and creating healthier, more vibrant places for people to enjoy. I encourage all eligible groups within the target areas to apply and be part of this positive change for Carmarthenshire”.

Applications are open until Friday 6th June 2025.

#Carmarthenshire #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CrossHands #Cwmamman #Environment #grantFunding #GreenSpaces #Kidwelly #Laugharne #Llandeilo #Llandovery #Llanybydder #NewcastleEmlyn #StClears #Whitland

Revealed: The 11 Carmarthenshire roads that will change from 20 to 30mph

Just 11 Carmarthenshire roads will see their speed limits returned to 30mph following a consultation by Carmarthenshire Council.

The Welsh Government policy was “hugely controversial” Cllr Alun Lenny told Carmarthenshire Council cabinet members at a meeting on 28 April, however he criticised the “reckless and impatient minority who care little for road safety”.

Council highways officers will also review “buffer” speed limits on approaches to 20mph roads. These see multiple speed limits in a short distance in an effort to encourage motorists to slow down ahead of the 20mph limit. The cabinet report said this review could potentially result in fewer buffer speed limit changes and a more consistent speed limit regime.

All the 20mph roads in Carmarthenshire that could change back to 30mph

A484 in Cwmdwyfran between Bronwydd Arms and Cynwyl Elfed
A484 in Pentre-Morgan, Bronwydd Arms
A484 at Pentrecagal near Newcastle Emlyn
B4297 Heol Y Bwlch in Bynea for a length of 600m from its junction with Yspitty Road to its junction with Y Gerddi
B4333 at Hermon on the southern approach to the village from Cynwyl Efled
B4312 at Llangain near Johnstown on both approaches to the village
B4312 at Monument Hill in Carmarthen
B4308 Carmarthen Road in Kidwelly on the southern approach to the town for a distance of approximately 246m
B4556 New Link Road in Penygroes
B4306 Heol Y Parc in Hendy from Llannon direction up to its junction with Clos Glyn Dwr
B4337 in Llanybydder for a distance of 150m on the eastern approach into Llanybydder from Ty Mawr.

The four roads deemed inappropriate to go back to 30mph were:

A4242 Coracle Way in Carmarthen
B4309 in Cynheidre
B4310 in Nantyffin
B4303 Dafen Road in Dafen, Llanelli.

Swansea Council recently said that out of 81 locations suggested for change, most of the routes suggested did not meet the Welsh Government’s strict criteria for exemptions, however 17 roads across the city did.

#20mph #30mph #BronwyddArms #Bynea #Carmarthenshire #CarmarthenshireCouncil #Hendy #Hermon #Kidwelly #Llanybydder #motoring #Penygroes

Gang lured record producer to remote Carmarthenshire cottage to attack him in elaborate plot

Each of the men have been jailed for eight years and one month respectively for deliberately enticing the victim to a remote location, and once there subjecting him to significant violence and restraining him by handcuffs. 

Faiz Shah, 23, Mohammad Comrie, 23, and Elijah Ogunnubi-Sime, 20, planned the crime on a Telegram group chat, where they discussed what items they would need to commit the crime and how to launder the money they intended to extort from the victim.

A cottage was rented and plans were made for escape routes if the police arrived.

The victim was a London-based Israeli-heritaged music producer and composer, who the men had invited to a cottage near Llanbydder in Carmarthenshire using the ruse that he was going to attend a music recording camp to work with other musicians, arranged by what he believed to be a legitimate music production and recording company.

A taxi was sent to collect the victim from his home address and bring him to the cottage. When the taxi arrived at the cottage on 26 August 2024, the victim and taxi driver entered the property and were immediately attacked by the three masked men.

The taxi driver managed to escape back to his vehicle but the victim was unable to escape and suffered extensive facial injuries as well as bodily bruises. 

The victim was handcuffed to a radiator, however when the gang left the room where they had detained him, the victim was able to escape by lifting his handcuffed hands up a pole and freeing himself from the location, and then ran out of the property, hiding in nearby bushes where he phoned his wife who alerted the police. 

He was taken to hospital as a result of the incident.

Dyfed Powys Police say the three men were located later that same evening following deployment of significant police resources, including a police helicopter, after police responded to reports of an assault at a property in the Brynteg area of Llanybydder.  They were hiding in the fields surrounding the property.  

All three were arrested and subsequently charged. They pleaded guilty to kidnapping on the first day of their trial at Swansea Crown Court on February 18.  The other counts the defendants were facing – unlawful wounding and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent – were ordered to lie on file.

Prosecutor Craig Jones told the court the three men had hoped to extort money from Mr Kashti “who they perceived to be a wealthy individual”, but Mr Jones said there was “clear political and religious motivation” because of his nationality.

The victim, Itay Kashti said the attack felt like his “own personal October 7th” in reference to Hamas’ attack on Israel in 2023 that triggered the ongoing war in Palestine.

In court on Friday (14 March) Mohammad Comrie was sentenced to eight years and one month imprisonment, Faiz Shah was sentenced to eight years and one month imprisonment, and Elijah Ogunnubi-Sime was sentenced to eight years and one month detention in a young offenders institution.  

Inspector Gareth Jones, Deputy Senior Investigating Officer from Dyfed Powys Police said: “It is clear that this offence has had a profound, harrowing and lasting impact on the victim and his family. This crime was thoroughly planned and was sophisticated in elements, including the use of false identities.

“At an early stage during their messaging to each other it was clear that their ultimate intention was the kidnap of the victim. The motivation appears two-fold, firstly, they clearly intended to extort money from the victim and additionally there was also political and racial motivation.

“I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in bringing this case to court, particularly the investigation team for their tenacity and professionalism and the resolute and tireless efforts of the officers at the scene in locating the defendants after a prolonged and difficult search and recovering crucial evidence. Securing justice for the victim has been our priority throughout. 

“I would also like to thank the Community Security Trust (CST) for supporting the victim following this harrowing incident, which included providing both vital psychological and emotional support.

“This sentence today reflects the severity of this offence and the ordeal the victim suffered – and we hope it gives the victim a sense of justice. We thank him for his strength, bravery and patience whilst we carried out a thorough investigation into what was an extraordinary crime.”

Michael Cray, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “These defendants made detailed plans about what they were going to do, how to do it, and how to get away with the money.

“Despite their extensive plans, fortunately, they could not fulfil them. 

“This must have been truly terrifying for the two victims, who had no idea they were walking into a trap. 

“We would like to thank them for supporting this prosecution and hope the fact these offenders have been brought to justice will help them move forward with their lives.”

(Lead image: Dyfed Powys Police / CPS)

#assault #Carmarthenshire #CPS #CrownProsecutionService #DyfedPowysPolice #featured #Israel #kidnap #Llanybydder

Not sure if "the bird site" allows uploads from platforms such as TikTok anymore, but here is my latest one. Featuring one of my favourite analogue point and shoot cameras and the results from Ilford XP2 Super 400 film. All images taken at Llanybydder from April 2022. Best viewed on full screen mode

#analogue #ilford #filmphotography #shootfilm #35mm #tiktok #filmcamera #photographer #photography #filmsnotdead #monochrome #llanybydder