Latest news with #Porthmadog
Telegraph
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Pictured: Drivers caught out by high tides at Welsh beauty spot
Expensive cars and campervans are getting wrecked at a beauty spot on the Welsh coast as the tide catches out drivers. Motorists are repeatedly running into trouble at Traeth y Greigddu, or Black Rock Sands, in North Wales where they are allowed to park on the sand. Cars are routinely submerged in the sand and vulnerable to being swept out to sea by fast-flowing waters. Five vehicles were trapped by the rising waters in April after parking on the shore, including a new Mercedes coupé and an Audi. Council officials have warned drivers against leaving their cars on the beach at Morfa Bychan, a village near the resort town of Porthmadog in Gwynedd, after saying their officers were unable to rescue every trapped vehicle. A Gwynedd council spokesman said: 'Where possible, during staffed hours, council officers will endeavour to recover any vehicles that get into such difficulties. 'However, in some cases it may be necessary to seek assistance from a third-party contractor, for which the driver or owner of the vehicle would be responsible for the associated costs. 'We welcome everyone who wishes to spend time on our beautiful beaches and coastal areas. However, we want everyone to enjoy themselves safely.' The spokesman reminded visitors to Traeth y Greigddu to check the weather forecast and tide times before parking on the sand, and 'to treat the sea and coastline with respect'. Gwynedd council advised drivers to park above the high-water mark and not to leave their cars unattended. 'Multiple signs are positioned along the beach at Morfa Bychan to warn users of the potential dangers and to indicate areas of the beach where vehicles are prohibited from accessing,' the council said in a statement. 'On occasion, the vehicles of those who have not heeded the warning signs can become trapped on the beach due to soft sand, having driven onto the sand banks, or because they have parked below the high-tide line.' The beach was used as a backdrop for the Manic Street Preachers ' 1998 album cover This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours.
Leader Live
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
No double joy to end a great campaign for Brickfield Rangers
Rangers, who lifted the Ardal North East League title a week ago, couldn't add more silverware as Porthmadog, who finished third in the North West League, deservedly took the honours. Dan Brookwell gave Porthmadog the perfect start with a second minute goal and it was 2-0 on 20 minutes as Tom Hilditch scored from the spot. Both players also netted again although Hilditch was shown a red card with 12 minutes to go. Rangers' consolation goal came from top scorer Andy Vale. While Brickfield head into Cymru North, Llay Welfare will take their place in the Ardal North set-up. And it's all change at the club where former first team boss Mike Gadie, who led Llay to Cymru North 12 months before they were relegated after one season, has taken over as chairman. And he has announced the club's new manager as Neill Hughes. 'Following our relegation back to Tier 3, it was crucial to bring in someone with a deep understanding of the league and local football scene - and Neill ticks all the boxes,' said Gadie. 'Having come up against him during our time in the Ardal North West, I was always impressed by the work rate, discipline and attitude of his sides. 'After an initial conversation and a positive meeting with myself and the vice-chairmen, it quickly became clear that Neill shares our vision for the future of the club. We're confident he's the right person to lead us into this exciting new chapter.' Hughes said: 'I am delighted to be taking on the opportunity of managing such a great club. 'Everybody I've met is passionate and proud of the Welly and what is developing. Myself and my coaching team can't wait to get started and help play a part in shaping the club's future'. In the final game of the North East Wales League season, Penyffordd Lions beat FC Queen's Park 4-1 in Group B of the Reserves Division. Matt Holmes blasted in a hat-trick in the victory.
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Police officer filmed restraining and punching man who 'attacked female colleague' is found not guilty of assault and strangulation
A policeman who was accused of 'brutality' after a video of him raining punches onto the head of a prone suspect went viral has been cleared on all counts by a jury. A shocking clip of PC Richard Williams punching the man in Porthmadog, north Wales at least nine times was viewed 500,000 times within a matter of hours. In response, politicians demanded an urgent investigation into whether he had used 'excessive force', with a Conservative Senedd member branding it 'police brutality'. But after going on trial for assault causing actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation, PC Williams insisted he had been defending a female colleague. The 43-year-year old denied using excessive violence, saying he had acted after the suspect, Steven Clark, had gone towards PC Einir Williams in what looked like a 'rugby tackle.' Today a jury at Caernarfon Crown Court cleared the North Wales Police officer on both counts. PC Williams is the second officer from the same force to be acquitted by a jury of assaulting a suspect during an arrest in the past two weeks. Their acquittal was today welcomed by the local Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers. This is the shocking moment PC Richard Williams grabs a suspect and rains punches on his head Saying both constables had been 'vindicated', its general secretary, Lewis Davies, said: 'Our officers make split second decisions every day, to protect both themselves and the wider public.' However PC Williams could still face misconduct proceedings. Giving evidence at his trial, PC Williams had told the jury that he had been an officer for 21 years. He claimed that during the attempt to arrest Mr Clark in May 2023 his colleague 'went falling backwards quite heavily on to the grass' with the suspect on top of her. 'My concern was for Einir,' he said in evidence, saying he had dragged Mr Clark away. 'I was acting in her defence.' PC Williams said the suspect 'seemed to be very strong and was pulling away from me'. 'I'm thinking he's under the influence of drugs,' he added. Questioned by his barrister, Simon Kealey KC, PC Williams maintained he hadn't intentionally strangled Mr Clark. 'He's just assaulted my colleague,' he said. PC Williams said he put Mr Clark in a headlock to 'control' him on the ground as he was resisting him. 'I'm in a state of shock at this time. 'He's assaulted my colleague. 'This is the first time someone has assaulted a female colleague of mine in my presence.' PC Williams told jurors he made 'little, short punches' with his weaker arm as 'distraction strikes.' The Taser-armed officer said he 'couldn't realistically use' his personal protective equipment which also included a baton and spray. He said it appeared his colleague had a 'nasty' fall. 'I thought she was out of it.' Giving evidence himself, Mr Clark told jurors: 'I wasn't being violent at all.' Footage of the arrest was taken by a neighbour and posted online, sparking widespread shock. In the clip, moments before the officer starts throwing punches, a man's voice can be heard shouting: 'Stop resisting!' As the violence begins, the woman filming the arrest gasps in horror and cries out: 'Oh my God!' She then throws open the window and shouts over to the officers. The man – who is barefoot - can then be heard groaning incoherently amid more shouts of 'Stop resisting!' as the male officer tried to handcuff him while his female colleague tells the suspect to calm down. Prosecuting counsel Richard Edwards previously told jurors that officers had been about to handcuff Mr Clark, who was suspected of common assault. However he told them he had a bad wrist due to an accident, with the situation escalating into violence. Tammy Humphreys, who lived opposite, began recording what was happening after hearing Mr Clark making 'daft' noises. 'Miss Humphreys opened the window and shouted across the street towards the officers "I'm sure you're not meant to punch him like that",' Mr Edwards said. He said Mr Clark sustained 'swelling and bruising'. The prosecutor told jurors: 'A police officer doesn't have free rein to do whatever they want to effect an arrest. 'The defendant says he was simply using reasonable force in the circumstances to arrest Steven Clark who, he says, was resisting. 'The Crown say the defendant's actions have gone beyond reasonable force and he's physically assaulted Steven Clark.' After the video went viral, Gareth Davies, Conservative Senedd member for the Vale of Clwyd, branded it 'police brutality'. In a tweet copying in North Wales Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman and then Home Secretary Suella Braverman he added: 'What are you doing? Surely we're better than this?' Mr Davies added that he was 'not sure on the circumstances leading up to it'. In response, Ms Blakeman wrote: 'I've seen the footage this morning and I take this very seriously. 'There is an investigation ongoing so we can understand the incident fully and we have referred the matter to the IOPC.' At the time North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin said: 'The video that is circulating of the arrest of a male in Porthmadog is concerning.' Meanwhile Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, signed an open letter demanding answers over concerns that the officer had used 'excessive force'. The force referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) which later passed a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service. Following PC Williams' acquittal, IOPC director Derrick Campbell said: 'It was appropriate for the evidence from our investigation of force used against the man to be tested in court.' North Wales Deputy Chief Constable Nigel Harrison said: 'We acknowledge the decision of the court who found PC Williams not guilty of assault having seen all the available evidence in this case. 'Police officers have to deal with conflict on a daily basis which requires instant decision making to help keep the public safe. 'There has rightly been an independent investigation given the concerns raised about the level of force used, this was conducted by the IOPC and we will now liaise with the IOPC in relation any potential misconduct procedures.' Just last week PC Ellis Thomas, 24, was found not guilty of grievous bodily harm after being accused of kneeing a teenager in the groin, causing him to lose half a testicle. The incident happened when Harley Murphy - then 17 - was arrested for being drunk and disorderly outside a nightclub in Bangor, Gwynedd, in January 2023. PC Thomas was cleared last month after telling Mold Crown Court that he took Mr Murphy to the floor by sweeping his legs from underneath him during his arrest, but did not knee him in the groin. Today North Wales Police Federation general secretary Mr Davies told Mail Online he 'welcomed' the decisions of the two juries who had 'vindicated' his members. 'The results are a huge relief to the officers, their family and friends, and we are pleased to have been able to support both officers throughout the processes,' he said. 'Our officers make split second decisions every day, to protect both themselves and the wider public. 'We welcome working with the IOPC in order to bring both matters to a conclusion.'
BBC News
08-05-2025
- BBC News
North Wales Police PC seen punching man in video cleared of assault
A North Wales Police officer filmed punching a man repeatedly during an arrest has been cleared of assault.A jury found PC Richard Williams, 43, not guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm and a second charge of intentional strangulation following a seven-day trial in officer faced the allegations following an incident in May 2023 when he was called to a report of a domestic incident in Porthmadog, Gwynedd. Mr Williams insisted the force used was necessary, telling the court how the suspect had resisted arrest and had already knocked a female colleague to the ground. Mr Williams said he did not want to hurt Steven Clark, who was 34 at the told a jury during his defence that the nine punches to Mr Clark's head were "distraction blows" when they were both lying on the ground and he could not reach his taser or told the court: "I had my hands around him, which naturally led to a headlock, but he continued to resist – he was pulling away from me."I was concerned for my safety and my colleague's safety."The whole incident was captured on a mobile phone by a neighbour overlooking the garden on the Pensyflog estate in Porthmadog. The clip then went viral on social led to an investigation by the police watchdog body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct and a decision to charge the Williams was suspended by the force pending the outcome of the trial.
BBC News
06-05-2025
- BBC News
North Wales Police officer denies wanting to hurt man during arrest
PC denies wanting to hurt man during arrest He admitted punching Mr Clark in the face, but described the punches as "distraction blows" when they were both lying on the ground, and he could not reach his taser or baton. Giving evidence at Caernarfon Crown Court, PC Williams said Mr Clark had assaulted his colleague, knocking her to the ground while they were both trying to arrest him. PC Richard Williams, 43, from North Wales Police, denies intentional strangulation and causing actual bodily harm on Steven Clark in May 2023. A police officer has said he did not want to hurt a man he is accused of assaulting during an arrest. The court heard that PC Richard Williams and his colleague, PC Einir Williams, had gone to an address in Porthmadog, Gwynedd, in May 2023 to answer a domestic violence call. They decided they needed to arrest Mr Clark, but as PC Richard Williams tried to put handcuffs on him, he said Mr Clark went straight towards PC Einir Williams "like a rugby tackle", knocking her to the ground. PC Richard Williams said he pulled Mr Clark away, but the pair ended up on the ground. He told the court: "I had my hands around him, which naturally led to a headlock, but he continued to resist – he was pulling away from me. "I was concerned for my safety and my colleague's safety. "I punched him a number of times with my left hand. It's my weaker hand, but it was the only hand free. "Little short punches was all I could do as distraction strikes, to stop him pulling away. "We were lying on the ground and I couldn't get to my baton, my taser or my incapacitant spray." He added that "at not point did we want to hurt Steven Clark. I did not want to use violence towards Steven Clark". Both police officers were wearing bodycams which recorded much of the incident. Richard Edwards, the prosecuting barrister, told PC Williams that the video evidence painted a very different picture, saying Mr Clark reacted the way he did because he was in pain because the handcuffs had not been applied properly. "Did you intentionally strangle Steven Clark?" Mr Edwards asked the officer. "No," PC Williams replied. "Did you unlawfully assault Steven Clark?" He responded: "No." The trial continues.
