Latest news with #FraudAct2006
Pembrokeshire Herald
02-05-2025
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Paddleboard tragedy leader was sacked from police for fraud
New details emerge after Cleddau manslaughter case concludes NEW details have emerged about the disgraced paddleboarding instructor jailed over the deaths of four people on the River Cleddau — including the fact she was previously dismissed from South Wales Police for insurance fraud. Nerys Lloyd, aged 39, was sentenced earlier this month to ten years and six months in prison after she admitted four counts of gross negligence manslaughter. The court heard she led a group of paddleboarders into dangerous conditions in Haverfordwest in October 2021, ignoring weather warnings and organising the trip despite flooded river levels. Four people — Morgan Rogers, 24, Nicola Wheatley, 40, Andrea Powell, 41, and Paul O'Dwyer, 42 — died after being swept over a concrete weir. Tragic: Morgan Rogers, 24, Nicola Wheatley, 40, Andrea Powell, 41, and Paul O'Dwyer, 42 died in the incident The fish ramp near County Hall, Haverfordwest (Image: Herald) Now it has emerged that Lloyd had previously worked as a firearms officer with South Wales Police — but was dismissed for dishonesty just weeks before the fatal outing. An Accelerated Misconduct Hearing in January 2022 found Lloyd made a false insurance claim. She submitted a repair bill for £577.55 when the actual cost of repairs was less than £20. Lloyd admitted her actions and received a formal caution for fraud by false representation under the Fraud Act 2006. South Wales Police confirmed that Lloyd had been sacked for breaching professional behaviour standards, and that the matter had only now been made public because criminal proceedings have concluded. Just two weeks after receiving the police caution, Lloyd led the fatal paddleboarding trip on the swollen Cleddau River. Photographs taken after the tragedy showed raging white water at the foot of the weir, where all four victims were pulled under. Sentencing her at Swansea Crown Court, Mrs Justice Dame Mary Stacey said: 'You were unqualified, you ignored warnings, and you showed a shocking lack of judgement.' As we reported last week, Lloyd showed no emotion as she was jailed.
Daily Mirror
01-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Paddleboard instructor who led four to death had been sacked as police officer
Nerys Lloyd led four people to their deaths on a paddleboard tour (Image: PA) A paddleboard firm boss and instructor who led four people to their deaths during "extremely hazardous conditions" on a river had previously been sacked from her job as a police officer, it has been revealed. Nerys Lloyd was sentenced to 10 years and six months behind bars after people on a tour she led of the Cleddau River in Haverfordwest, Wales, tragically died. Disaster struck when the 39-year-old, who was the owner and sole director of Salty Dog Co Ltd, went ahead with a stand-up paddleboarding tour on the swollen river despite weather warnings being put in place. The outdoor session ended in horror as Morgan Rogers, 24, Nicola Wheatley, 40, Andrea Powell, 41, and co-instructor Paul O'Dwyer, 42, were swept to their deaths by the water. Lloyd had previously been sacked by the police (Image: WALES NEWS SERVICE) Lloyd, from Aberavon, was found guilty and sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on April 23 and shocking details of her getting sacked after committing insurance fraud have since been released. The 39-year-old was fired from her role as a firearms officer at South Wales Police after claiming £577.55 from an insurance scheme. She did this despite the real cost being between "in the region of £16 to £20". An Accelerated Misconduct Hearing, in January 2021, saw Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan declare Lloyd had breached professional behaviour standards through her actions. Nerys Lloyd going into court for sentencing (Image: PA) A report said Lloyd "admitted her wrongdoing and immediately apologised for her behaviour, stating it was an error of judgement" and she paid back the money. She also accepted a formal caution for the criminal offence of fraud by false representation under the Fraud Act 2006, on October 19, 2021. Lloyd accepted the caution just two weeks before River Cleddau tragedy. One the deadly day, the group approached the weir, three participants were pulled over the top and became trapped. O'Dwyer, who initially got out of the river safely, re-entered in an attempt to rescue the others, but was immediately dragged over the weir. Co-instructor Paul O'Dwyer died (Image: WALES NEWS SERVICE) The firm owner was slammed in court for not making a crucial check despite the weather warnings in place. Lisa Rose, specialist prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service special crime division, said: "This was an avoidable tragedy. Despite going to check the state of the river before departing on the tour, Nerys Lloyd failed to inspect the weir. "The majority of participants had limited experience, and Lloyd was not qualified to take paddleboarders out in such hazardous conditions. There was no safety briefing or formal risk assessments, and the participants were not advised that they would be traversing a weir or instructed on options to get out of the water." A view of Haverfordwest Town Weir during low flow conditions (Image: PA) She was branded a charlatan and a coward by her victims' families, with one grieving husband saying he had waited "three long years" to tell her what he thought of her in court. While another victim's mother told the court her daughter's life was taken for "nothing more than profit".
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Daily Mail
'Arrogant' unqualified instructor who was jailed for leading four paddleboarders to their deaths was sacked from police for insurance fraud
A paddleboard instructor who led four people to their deaths in a swollen river was previously sacked as a policewoman after committing insurance fraud. Nerys Lloyd was jailed for 10 years and six months after four people died on the Cleddau River in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, in October 2021. The 39-year-old had organised a stand-up paddleboarding tour on the river despite 'extremely hazardous conditions' and weather warnings in place. The weekend outing ended in tragedy when paddleboarders Morgan Rogers, 24, Nicola Wheatley, 40, Andrea Powell, 41, and co-instructor Paul O'Dwyer, 42, all died after they were dragged over the raging water on the weir. Following her sentencing earlier this month, it has emerged that Ms Lloyd was previously sacked from her role as a firearms officer at South Wales Police for a fraudulent insurance claim. In January 2022, at an Accelerated Misconduct Hearing, Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan found that Lloyd had breached professional behaviour standards and should be dismissed. Lloyd had made a fraudulent claim against the police insurance scheme in relation to the cost of repair to her own vehicle. While the repairs to her car cost in the region of £16 to £20 the subsequent insurance claim made by PC Lloyd was for £577.55, the hearing conclusion document said. Health worker Nicola Wheatley (left) and her co-instructor Paul O'Dwyer (right) died in the tragedy South Wales Police released the previously unpublished details of the misconduct investigation and insurance fraud now that the criminal case against Lloyd, from Aberavon, has concluded. Lloyd was said to have 'admitted her wrongdoing and immediately apologised for her behaviour, stating it was an error of judgement.' The matter was reported to South Wales Police and Lloyd was then subject of a formal caution for the criminal offence of fraud by false representation contrary to sections 1 and 2 of the Fraud Act 2006, in October 2021. Lloyd repaid the money. This was just two weeks before the tragedy on the River Cleddau which saw Nicola Wheatley, Morgan Rogers, Paul O'Dwyer and Andrea Powell lose their lives. Horrifyingly the party were dragged over the 4ft weir and sucked into the churning torrent - trapped by the equivalent of nearly two tonnes of water crossing a one-metre-wide section every second. Photographs from the scene showed the large weir with a fish ramp in the middle 'only slightly wider than the width of a paddleboard' and a concrete landing platform to the side. Images taken a day after the tragedy show the foaming, swollen water at the bottom of the weir - in stark contrast to the calm condition of the river when Lloyd carried out a reconnaissance visit weeks earlier. Lloyd was able to navigate herself down the fish ramp on her board before 'one by one' each of the seven others were swept over the face of the weir and fell off their paddleboards, the court heard. Earlier this month Lloyd pleaded guilty to four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and one offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act in March, and was sentenced by Mrs Justice Dame Mary Stacey at Swansea Crown Court. Handing Lloyd a 10-year and six-month sentence, the judge told Lloyd: 'I accept you are desperately sorry for what happened that day. 'Your life has also been massively impacted. But being sorry for what happened is different from remorse.' Lloyd showed no emotion as her sentence was read out, only nodding at the judge and mouthing 'thank you'.
ITV News
01-05-2025
- ITV News
Jailed paddleboard instructor had been sacked from South Wales Police for fraudulent insurance claim
A paddleboard operator who was jailed after four people drowned during an excursion on a river in Pembrokeshire was previously sacked as a police officer for making a fraudulent insurance claim. Nerys Bethan Lloyd, 39, organised a stand-up paddleboarding tour on the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest in October 2021 despite 'extremely hazardous conditions' and weather warnings. Lloyd, who was jailed for ten years and six months at Swansea Crown Court last week, failed to warn the group about a dangerous weir with a 1.3m drop along the route, or how to navigate it. Paul O'Dwyer, 42, Andrea Powell, 41, Nicola Wheatley, 40 and Morgan Rogers, 24 all died as they were swept over, becoming trapped under the fast-moving water. After the sentencing, South Wales Police published details of a misconduct hearing which led to her dismissal as an officer in 2022. It revealed that she claimed £577.55 to cover a car repair that only cost around £16 to £20. Lloyd admitted her wrongdoing, apologised and said it was an error of judgment and repaid the amount in full, the misconduct hearing was told. She was interviewed under caution on October 11 2021, two weeks before the paddleboarding incident. Lloyd attended Ystrad Mynach Police Station on October 19 2021 and accepted a formal caution for the criminal offence of fraud by false representation under the Fraud Act 2006. Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan said in his decision: 'It is entirely unacceptable for police officers, who are responsible for enforcing the law, to break the law themselves.' After the river incident, Lloyd sought to blame Mr O'Dwyer, who helped act as an instructor on the trip. Speaking outside the court, Theresa Hall, the mother of Morgan Rogers, said she lost her 'best friend' and could 'never forgive' Lloyd. Darren Wheatley, Ms Wheatley's husband, said the loss of his wife was due to Lloyd and no one else. Ceri O'Dwyer, who was on the tour, described her husband, Paul, as the 'kindest man' but admitted he made a 'catastrophic error of judgment'. Quoting Lloyd, David Elias KC, for the defence, said: 'I take full blame (for the incident) that meant four extremely special individuals are not here today. 'The pain for me has been unbearable but the pain for the families unmeasurable. 'There were nine people on the river that day and every one of them is a victim.' Lloyd, from Aberavon was the owner and sole director of Salty Dog Co Ltd, which organised the tour. She pleaded guilty to four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and one offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act in March, and was sentenced by Mrs Justice Dame Mary Stacey. Mrs Justice Stacey told the court that the four people who died had been 'cut off in their prime, with so much to live for and look forward to'. She told the defendant: 'There was no safety briefing beforehand. 'None of the participants had the right type of leash for their board, and you didn't have any next of kin details. 'No consent forms were obtained. There had been no mention to the group of a weir on the river and how to deal with it and no discussion of the tidal river conditions whatsoever.' The judge said there were Met Office weather warnings at that time, as well as a flood alert in place through Natural Resources Wales.
The Independent
01-05-2025
- The Independent
Paddleboard company owner jailed over deaths was sacked as police officer
A paddleboard operator jailed for the deaths of four people during a hazardous river excursion was sacked as a police officer for making a fraudulent insurance claim. Nerys Bethan Lloyd, 39, was sentenced to 10 years and six months at Swansea Crown Court for organising a stand-up paddleboarding tour on the River Cleddau in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, despite "extremely hazardous conditions" and weather warnings in place. The October 2021 tragedy claimed the lives of four people.. The court heard how Lloyd, a former police officer, failed to adequately prepare the group for the treacherous conditions, neglecting to warn them about a dangerous weir along the route with a 1.3-metre drop, or provide instructions on how to navigate it safely. This oversight proved fatal. Lloyd was previously dismissed from the police force for making a false insurance claim. Paul O'Dwyer, 42, Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24, and Nicola Wheatley, 40, all died as they were swept over, becoming trapped under the fast-moving water. After the sentencing, South Wales Police published details of a misconduct hearing which led to her dismissal as an officer in 2022. It revealed that she claimed £577.55 to cover a car repair that only cost around £16 to £20. Lloyd admitted her wrongdoing, apologised and said it was an error of judgment and repaid the amount in full, the misconduct hearing was told. She was interviewed under caution on October 11 2021, two weeks before the paddleboarding incident. Lloyd attended Ystrad Mynach Police Station on October 19 2021 and accepted a formal caution for the criminal offence of fraud by false representation under the Fraud Act 2006. Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan said in his decision: 'It is entirely unacceptable for police officers, who are responsible for enforcing the law, to break the law themselves.' After the river incident, Lloyd sought to blame Mr O'Dwyer, who helped act as an instructor on the trip. Speaking outside the court, Theresa Hall, the mother of Morgan Rogers, said she lost her 'best friend' and could 'never forgive' Lloyd. Darren Wheatley, Ms Wheatley's husband, said the loss of his wife was due to Lloyd and no one else. Ceri O'Dwyer, who was on the tour, described her husband, Paul, as the 'kindest man' but admitted he made a 'catastrophic error of judgment'. Quoting Lloyd, David Elias KC, for the defence, said: 'I take full blame (for the incident) that meant four extremely special individuals are not here today. 'The pain for me has been unbearable but the pain for the families unmeasurable. 'There were nine people on the river that day and every one of them is a victim.' Lloyd, from Aberavon, south Wales, was the owner and sole director of Salty Dog Co Ltd, which organised the tour. She pleaded guilty to four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and one offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act in March, and was sentenced by Mrs Justice Dame Mary Stacey. Mrs Justice Stacey told the court that the four people who died had been 'cut off in their prime, with so much to live for and look forward to'. She told the defendant: 'There was no safety briefing beforehand. 'None of the participants had the right type of leash for their board, and you didn't have any next of kin details. 'No consent forms were obtained. There had been no mention to the group of a weir on the river and how to deal with it and no discussion of the tidal river conditions whatsoever.' The judge said there were Met Office weather warnings at that time, as well as a flood alert in place through Natural Resources Wales.
