Latest news with #Gower
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Smirking thug who battered his friend, forced him to strip naked and then paraded him through the streets is jailed
A smirking thug who battered his friend, forced him to strip naked and then paraded him through the streets has been jailed. Karl Griffiths, 42, of Penclawdd, Gower, staged his heinous attack after a day of group socialising at the friend's flat in the Welsh village on January 30 this year. The distressing ordeal saw him march his naked friend through the centre of Penclawdd, down what is the main road through the whole north Gower area. This was filmed by people in the village on their mobile phones, with the footage showing the poor man in clear distress. Before this, Griffiths - who already has a 'substantial criminal history' - had hit his friend and his friend's girlfriend with her crutches and punched him repeatedly in the head and all over his body. He also threw a lamp across the room, destroyed their TV, shouted abuse, took the couple's phones off them, locked everyone present in the flat - and told police on the phone: 'I'm going to kill someone'. He was now been locked up for 31 months, with sentences for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, battery, kidnap and criminal damage to run concurrently. The attacker received a one quarter discount for pleading guilty - and he will only serve up to half his sentence in custody, with the rest on licence in the community. Griffiths' previous offences include non-domestic burglaries, dishonesty matters, weapons offences and supplying Class A drugs. His police headshot shows him looking right at the camera with a brazenly direct gaze and a smug expression. Judge Huw Rees, at Swansea Crown Court, said Griffiths' behaviour was 'irrational' and probably done under the influence of drink and drugs. But he also admitted that by the look of his references, other people thought well of Griffiths and saw him as a 'kindly man'. The attacker hopes his friend can forgive him in time. Meanwhile, the victim said in an impact statement read by Mr Jones he could not believe someone he considered a friend could have treated him so poorly. He added it has had a massive effect on his mental health, leaving him feeling unsafe in his own home. But in an astonishingly generous move, the victim said while what Griffiths did was 'not right', he did not want his friend to be prosecuted. His partner said in an impact statement the horrifying attack had made her anxiety and depression even worse. She hoped everyone could 'put this behind them' and move on. Prosecutor Craig Jones said everything started after a big group hangout had extended into the evening. Griffiths received a phone call at one point in the night, briefly leaving the flat to answer. But when he returned, he locked the door behind him and told those present no one was leaving. After taking the phones of his friend and his friend's partner and refusing to return them, he accused the pair of stealing from him. The prosecutor said it was not clear whether he was accusing them of stealing money or drugs. It was then he assaulted the couple with the crutches and punched the friend, before hurling the abuse at them and throwing the lamp across the room, smashing it. Griffiths 'demanded' his friend take his clothes off, telling him they were 'going for a walk' and forcing him outside, the prosecutor said - before he 'essentially paraded him naked around the streets'. It was a highly public area, near the village's large CK Foodstores supermarket. The barrister said he would not play the footage of the humiliating naked walk in open court out of respect for the dignity of the victim, unless the judge wanted it shown. Griffiths then took his friend back to his flat where he smashed the TV and called the police. It was then he made the terrifying threat: 'Someone better come and get me, I'm going to kill someone.' He was arrested, saying in his police interview his arrival at his friend's flat had come after he had argued with his mother. Griffiths accused his friend of stealing from him and admitted to giving him 'a clip' and hitting him with 'a few punches'. He accepted making him march around outside the flat to humiliate him. Griffiths previously pleaded guilty to battery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, criminal damage, and kidnapping when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. His lawyer James Hartson said whatever grievance his client may have had with his friend, it 'could not remotely justify the level of humiliation and violence' handed out. But he added intoxication may go some way towards explaining it. The attacker has now rid himself of his addiction to controlled drugs and has enhanced-prisoner status at HMP Swansea, the barrister continued. Judge Rees pointed out Griffiths' victims had been his friends - and the 'parading' through the streets had occurred in a particularly public location. Griffiths' concurrent custodial sentence comprises 31 months for kidnap, three months for battery, 18 months for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one month for criminal damage.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
EXCLUSIVE — David Gower: World Test Championship is inevitably flawed
Former England captain David Gower isn't against Bazball — but he believes Test cricket's future hinges on something bigger than England's approach. One of England's most elegant batters, Gower scored 8,231 runs in 117 Tests at an average of 44.25, with 18 centuries to his name — and he's now calling for the ICC to urgently rethink how it supports its 'relatively poor' member nations if the longest format is to survive. Speaking to Sportstar on the final day of the third Test at Lord's, Gower weighed in on the 'inevitably flawed' World Test Championship, praised Shubman Gill's early captaincy, and argued that for England, the challenge isn't to abandon Bazball — but to know when to rein it in. With aggressive batting and quick results becoming the norm in Tests, how do you view this shift — and do you worry about its impact on batting craft? The idea of batting positively isn't new. Back in 1985, during the Ashes here, we scored at over four an over in five of six Tests — which, for that time, was rapid. The Australians of the '90s did it too: they'd score quickly to give (Glenn) McGrath and (Shane) Warne time to bowl teams out — and still fit in a round of golf. So, the concept has always existed. What England have done under (Ben) Stokes and (Brendon) McCullum is take it to new heights. The (Jonny) Bairstows, the (Zak) Crawleys, and others who love their shots have recorded scoring rates that are the highest in the last three to four years. And on its day, it's thrilling to watch. There's huge entertainment value in it, but also a slightly desperate need to prove that Test cricket can still be entertaining. We're talking on the fifth morning of this Test, and the buzz is absolutely electric. It was the same last night. This entire series has had moments that have reminded everyone what five-day cricket can offer. For those lucky enough to be at the ground, it's a real event — something you feel. That isn't something you get with formats where you pop in for a couple of hours and leave with a result. I still believe Test cricket is the highest form of the game by some distance. When Virat Kohli says it is, that's great PR — because 1.4 billion people hear him. But we need more people speaking up for it. What we — my generation especially — always wanted from England was a blend of flair and grit. In the Lord's Ashes Test two years ago, they collapsed in an hour of madness; only Stokes stuck it out. Since then, a few others have started to ride out the tough periods, then push on again with clear skies and fair winds. That's progress. Over the past four years, there were moments when a different approach for an hour or two might have changed the result. And now, in this series, you can see they've begun to learn from those. The pace of the Lord's Test has been different. Batting hasn't been easy — there've been no soft 200s. That's fabulous. And you can feel it everywhere — the stands, the press box, the corporate boxes — this sense that you're watching something special. (Smiles) I wasn't planning to come in today [final day]. But after last night, it felt like it would be a shame to miss it. Is Bazball the way forward — or just a necessary tactic to keep Test cricket relevant in the T20 era? If teams are capable of playing that way, then yes — it's important for Test cricket to prove it's still worth watching. In an era where white-ball formats dominate and data tells us fans love the instant thrill — balls flying to the boundary, sixes every few minutes — anything that shows how vibrant the long format can be is valid. But not every team has the talent or depth to play that way. If you're lower down the pecking order, you've got to find the best way you can to win a Test — even if that means playing more conservatively. Look at Australia. Sure, they have someone like Travis Head, who fits naturally into a more aggressive mould. But their overall approach has often been pragmatic. That alleged culture clash in the Ashes two years ago — England's ultra-positive style versus Australia's discipline — ended with the pragmatic side winning. Ultimately, in iconic series like the Ashes or the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, or even the World Test Championship final, it's not about style points — it's about doing what it takes to win. And part of keeping Test cricket relevant is showing people that drama can unfold in many ways. In that WTC final, the ball dominated for two days — low scores, not your usual white-ball fare — and then Aiden Markram played a stunning innings to snatch the game. That ebb and flow, those wild momentum shifts, are unique to this format. I know it's a harder sell to younger fans — and nearly impossible to explain to Americans — but for those who still value Test cricket as the game's highest form, their voice still matters, even if it's a smaller group now. Ashes reverie: David Gower, England's debonair captain, stands tall on the Oval balcony, cradling the Ashes urn — the gleaming symbol of a summer triumph. The 3-1 series win in 1985 is his crowning moment. Beside him, Allan Border embodies the stoic dignity of defeat. | Photo Credit: THE HINDU ARCHIVES With T20 leagues on the rise and bilateral interest fading, what reforms can help safeguard Test cricket without ignoring the game's commercial realities? Well, I never quite know the answer to that sort of question. But what's telling is how the conversation has shifted. Two years ago, influential voices were busy carving out windows for franchise cricket. Now, those same people are saying we need a dedicated window for Test cricket. And it's complicated, isn't it? There are so many factors — money, resources, infrastructure. Lord's is an exception: 28,000 people will turn up on a Monday for Day Five of a Test if the match is set up well. India still gets good crowds, though in a 100,000-seater, 30,000 can look sparse. Australia gets healthy numbers when we tour. But in the West Indies, the stands are nearly empty. Test matches there often lose money. In New Zealand, they've at least adapted by using smaller grounds to make things feel fuller. But for many boards, the arithmetic doesn't work. You can understand why a board like Cricket West Indies, already under pressure, might prefer eight days of white-ball cricket over 15 days of loss-making Tests. That's a hard call to argue with. So, unless the ICC can think of — I know it wouldn't go down well in India — redistributing the funds that can help out the poorer nations, we will see Test cricket declining apart from the top three, four, five nations. (This can't be) just an odd boost every other year or in three or four years, but year by year. So I'm not the Solomon who can tell you exactly how to solve this. But one of the things I do think very strongly is that if you want Test-playing nations to still be in business, then they need help. With Bazball's rise, England's pitches seem flatter and more batting-friendly than before. Is old-school English cricket losing its edge? (Smiles) I suppose these flat pitches suit Stokes' desire to chase — well, sometimes. Even this England team would agree that a better contest between bat and ball makes for a better spectacle. That's been a mantra for so many of us over the years. Watching teams pile up 600 on certain flat pitches — it gets quite dull, doesn't it? Then there's the commercial side to consider. Take this Lord's Test: if it finishes in three days, that's potentially two days of lost revenue. But how do you weigh that against the quality of entertainment the crowd has already had? The dream is a fair contest, something in it for both batters and bowlers. A game that lasts at least four days, stays tight, and builds toward a tense finish, like this one. That's when Test cricket is at its best. When Tests wrap up in just two or three days — especially in the subcontinent — does it hurt the format's appeal? Home advantage can be abused, of course. And when the temptation is to win at almost any cost, teams sometimes go too far. That series in India last year, for example — dominated by turning tracks — you could tell it wouldn't last five days. And you could probably guess the result going in. But if you're trying to reach the World Test Championship final, you want points and wins — that's the reality. England's tour of Pakistan last October showed both extremes. One Test was on a flat pitch — Harry Brook's triple hundred was brilliant in its own way. Then the next games, the ball spun, and we watched a side that was dominant unravel. So yes, pitch preparation can shape a series — that's undeniable. Whether that's right or wrong is open to debate. Some dream of a unified pitch formula: 'no, no, no, no, no, no. It's only seam, flat and spin' — as if there's a dial you can turn remotely. That would be ideal. But let's be realistic — you take what you get and try to win on it. David Gower: 'As a captain, you can just try and find a way of motivating or inspiring every man to be at his best somehow. That's all you can do.' | Photo Credit: PTI The WTC has added context to Tests — but what changes would make the format more relevant and engaging? The World Test Championship is inevitably flawed — whether it's the percentage system or the points lost for slow over-rates. It's a brave attempt to address the issue, but clearly not enough. The real problem is that it's not an even contest. Not all top sides play each other, and everything depends on where, how, and who you play. No amount of maths can fix that imbalance. That said, it does add context — especially for the teams in the top four pushing for a final spot. But if you're sitting at number nine, frankly, no one gives a flying fox what happens. India is in a rebuilding phase under a new captain. If you had a word with Shubman Gill, what advice would you give him on bringing the best out of his players? Building a team depends on so many things. At the start of the series, people focused on the absence of Rohit (Sharma) and Virat (Kohli). But Shubman stepped up and played beautifully in two Tests. You don't have to be 34 to lead — you can be 24, if you've got talent, a good head, and a solid technique. That kind of player can fill the gap. If you're one or two players short of a great side, you work around it and trust others to develop. I trust my old colleague Michael Atherton when he says India won nine of the 10 days. That's not bad for a team supposedly in transition. In Birmingham, they bowled better than us. At Lord's, England finally found something in the ball we hadn't really seen before. Team-building often comes down to individual moments. Look at Stokes at Lord's — this is the Stokes we've missed: bowling 90 miles an hour, driving the attack forward. You want all your key players at peak performance — that's what shifts a match. I always say, if six of your XI are playing to their potential, you're in a good position. If six are having a shocker, you're likely coming second. If all 11 hit their peak — you're unbeatable. But that rarely happens. As a captain, you can just try and find a way of motivating or inspiring every man to be at his best somehow. That's all you can do.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
WTC format inevitably flawed, feels David Gower
Former England captain David Gower believes the World Test Championship (WTC) format is 'inevitably flawed' because it does not offer an event contest among the teams. According to him, while the tournament adds some context to the teams that are vying for the top spots, it has very little to offer to teams struggling at the bottom. 'The WTC is inevitably flawed — be it the percentage system or the points lost for over-rates… The obvious flaw in the format is that it's not an even contest. It's not even if all the top sides don't play each other,' Gower told The Hindu. 'It depends on where you play, how you play and who you play. Whatever you try to do mathematically, it's never going to be right…' Each WTC cycle runs for two years, where teams play six series in that period — three at home and three away — with 12 points awarded for winning a match, six for a tie and four for a draw. But then, as teams play a different number of Tests across their six series, the table is ranked by percentage of points won. 'To be fair, it gives added context to the teams who, at the end of the two-year cycle, are somewhere in the top four and vying for the top two. If you're down at No. 9, no one (cares about) what goes on,' Gower said. While India, Australia and England have been the biggest advocates of Test cricket, several smaller boards have struggled to get the format going. 'Unless maybe, the ICC, can think of — I know it wouldn't go down well in India — redistributing the funds, that can help out the poorer nations. And, not just an odd boost, but should happen year by year. If you want Test-playing nations to still be in business, then they need help,' added Gower.
Wales Online
14-07-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
'I woke up at midnight to find my hotel in flames'
'I woke up at midnight to find my hotel in flames' Julian Short is trying his best to remain positive after the fire devastated the popular pub at renowned Welsh beauty spot Fire ripped through the Worm's Head Hotel, Rhossili (Image: Nicholas Dickerson ) The owner of a popular pub at a renowned beauty spot has spoken for the first time since a huge fire gutted the family-run business. Julian Short confirmed that they still had no idea how the fire at the Worm's Head Hotel and The Causeway started in the early hours of Monday morning. Police have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, but they have said it is not thought to have been deliberate. Mr Short said he woke up at around midnight to the sight of his hotel up in flames. He says he has no idea what caused the fire, but said it looked like it had started "behind the hotel in the bin area." "The alarms went off after midnight when everything was closed and the fire was clearly in the bin area at the rear," Mr Short told WalesOnline. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here A statement from the hotel said: "Everyone's safe. Thank you for your well wishes. The bar and hotel will be closed pending future updates." The local community has flooded the family with messages of support, expressing how they are shocked and saddened to see the "iconic" Gower business in ruins. Article continues below The fire service continuing to tackle the blaze at the Worm's Head Hotel (Image: David Pullman ) The owner of the Worm's Head Hotel, Julian Short, also owns The Causeway Fellow family-run bar the King's Head has issued a statement describing how the events overnight are "truly heart-breaking for any family run business." Their statement says: "Our hearts go out to our friends at the Worm's Head Hotel following the devastating fire. Just as the summer holidays begin, this is truly heartbreaking for any family-run business. "If there's anything we can do to support you-please don't hesitate to reach out. We're thinking of you all and sending strength in the days ahead." Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park described the hotel and restaurant as 'iconic Gower business'. They say they are "absolutely gutted" at the news. "We are absolutely gutted for the Wormshead Hotel who suffered a devastating fire yesterday which has ripped through this iconic Gower business. So sad for the family who run this place and all the team," said a spokesperson for Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park. "Hoping that they can reopen as soon as possible and we will be there when it reopens. No better place in the world to watch a Gower sunset. Please show some love to them." Another neighbouring business, a café called The View, added: Though despite the unfortunate loss, Mr Short remains optimistic about the hotel's future. "Where there's a disappointment, there's an opportunity. And we can redo this in a different way," he said. A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire Service confirmed they were called to the blaze at around 1am on June 14, confirming the hotel has been significantly damaged by the fire. The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time. (Image: Nicholas Dickerson ) They issued the following statement: "At 12.51am on Monday, July 14, the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews from Reynoldston, Swansea West, Port Talbot, Morriston, Swansea Central and Gorseinon Fire Stations were called to the scene of a large-scale at the Worm's Head Hotel in Rhossili. "Crews responded to a fire within the property's accommodation block, which spread to the block's entire roof space. Crews utilised a turntable ladder appliance as a water tower, a water bowser, two water jets, one hose reel jet and two breathing apparatus sets to fight the fire. The fire was extinguished at around 5.30am. "No casualties were reported and all occupants were accounted for. "After extinguishing the fire, crews monitored for remaining hot spots using thermal imaging cameras and continued to dampen down at the scene, with the last crews leaving at 9.32am. "The property has been significantly damaged by the fire. The cause of the fire has not yet been identified. "This incident required a multi-agency response, with South Wales Police also in attendance." Firefighters have been called back to re-inspect the site of the fire, after witnesses saw smoke coming from the building. A spokesperson for South Wales Police added: "Officers were called to the Worm's Head Hotel, Rhossili, Swansea at 1:30am today (Monday July 14) following a report of a fire. "The Fire Service extinguished the fire, which caused significant damage to the building. "The cause of the fire is currently being investigated but at this time is not thought to have been deliberate." Police investigators remain at the site at this time. Article continues below
BBC News
14-07-2025
- BBC News
Gower: Fire causes major damage to landmark hotel
The owners of a landmark hotel overlooking the Gower peninsula said they were "heartbroken" by major damage caused by a and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service were called to a blaze at the Worm's Head Hotel in Rhossili at 00:51 BST on Monday property has been significantly damaged by the fire, the cause of which has not yet been identified, the fire service confirmed that no casualties were reported and all occupants were accounted for."It is particularly heartbreaking and soul destroying for me and family to see 25 years of hard work destroyed in less than 30 mins," the owners said in a social media post. The fire service said it responded to a fire within the property's accommodation block, which spread to the block's entire roof fire was extinguished at around 05:30, with crews continuing to monitor the scene before leaving at 09:32."Not sure how we come back from this at all let alone in the near term future but we will strive to come back stronger," the owners said in a Facebook Nichol, who visits Rhosilli regularly, said she could not believe the destruction following the fire."We used to come every summer. It's absolutely shocking to see it like this," she and Gareth Parfitt, from Weston-super-Mare, were visiting friends in Rhosilli and said they were "devastated"."We've been coming here a few years, spent many a fantastic new year here, so to see it like this, I felt quite emotional when we turned the corner," said Beverly."The vision I had today was to sit outside there with a nice meal and lager together," Gareth added. A 25m (82 ft) span of roof had collapsed at the hotel, leaving blackened beams and an exposed chimney stack a statement, the hotel management said; "Everyone's safe. Thank you for your well wishes. The bar and hotel will be closed pending future updates."The 17-bedroom hotel has sweeping views of the National Trust-owned Rhossili Bay, a designated area of outstanding natural Wales Police were also in attendance to the incident.
