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BBC News
30-04-2025
- BBC News
Paddleboard firm owner Nerys Lloyd was sacked as PC for fraud claim
A paddleboard firm boss, jailed after four people died in a river accident, was sacked from the police over a fraudulent insurance Lloyd, 39, from Aberavon, was jailed at Swansea Crown Court on 23 April for 10 years and six months after the tragedy on the River Cleddau in October the case has finished, South Wales Police has published details of a misconduct hearing for the former reveals she was sacked in November 2022 after claiming more than £500 from a car insurance scheme when the actual cost of repairs was around £20. Lloyd was jailed last week after admitting gross negligence manslaughter following the tragedy on the River Cleddau in October company Salty Dog had organised the excursion in which Paul O'Dwyer, Andrea Powell, Morgan Rogers and Nicola Wheatley drowned at a weir in Haverfordwest, had previously admitted gross negligence manslaughter and a health and safety the criminal case has concluded, the south Wales force has released previously unpublished details of an unrelated misconduct investigation into an insurance his findings, the Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan describes how Lloyd, who had served as a firearms officer, had made a fraudulent claim against the South Wales Police Federation motor insurance actual cost of a repair to her car was "in the region of £16 to £20" but she had claimed £ report says that when the matter came to light, Lloyd had admitted her wrongdoing and immediately apologised for her claim was reported to South Wales was interviewed under caution on 11 October 2021, two weeks before the tragedy on the river, on the made a full admission to the fraudulent claim and said she had made a "massive error of judgement". She repaid the money 19 October 2021, she had attended Ystrad Mynach Police Station, Caerphilly county, and accepted a formal caution for the criminal offence of fraud by false representation under the Fraud Act 2006. At the misconduct hearing in January 2022, the chief constable found the allegations of breaches professional standards were proved for honesty and integrity, bringing discredit on the police service and undermining the confidence of the Vaughan said it was entirely unacceptable for police officers, who are responsible for enforcing the law, to break the law concluded that she should be dismissed without the sentencing hearing last week it was disclosed that Lloyd had been suspended by South Wales Police when the tragedy the judge Mrs Justice Mary Stacey said the prior caution for fraud would not have any bearing on her sentencing decision.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Paddleboard guide who led 4 people to their deaths on Welsh river imprisoned for 10 years
LONDON (AP) — A former Welsh police officer who who led four people to their deaths in a paddleboarding tragedy in the U.K. was sentenced Wednesday to 10.5 years in prison for manslaughter. Nerys Bethan Lloyd, 39, had previously pleaded guilty in Swansea Crown Court to four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and failing to discharge her duty for the Oct. 30, 2021 incident. The River Cleddau in Haverfordwest was raging after heavy rains when Lloyd, who operated a side business called the Salty Dog, made the ill-fated decision to lead a group of beginners toward a dangerous weir where the churning waters created a deadly undertow. Lloyd had not warned the group about the obstacle nor instructed them how to get over it safely. While Lloyd managed to navigate her way down a narrow fish ramp that bisected the low dam, several customers were swept over the top and sucked under the turbulent brown waters. Paul O'Dwyer, who helped Lloyd lead the tour, managed to reach shore but returned to the river to help those in distress and was also killed. Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24, and Nicola Wheatley, 40, also drowned. 'I accept you are desperately sorry for what happened that day," Justice Mary Stacey said. "'Your life has also been massively impacted. But being sorry for what happened is different from remorse.' Prosecutor Mark Watson said Lloyd and O'Dwyer were not remotely qualified to guide clients on the dangerous stretch of river. Defense lawyer David Elias read a statement from Lloyd, saying she took full blame for the incident. 'The pain for me has been unbearable but the pain for the families unmeasurable," Lloyd wrote. The Associated Press
Associated Press
23-04-2025
- Associated Press
Paddleboard guide who led 4 people to their deaths on Welsh river imprisoned for 10 years
LONDON (AP) — A former Welsh police officer who who led four people to their deaths in the worst paddleboarding tragedy in the U.K. was sentenced Wednesday to 10.5 years in prison for manslaughter. Nerys Bethan Lloyd, 39, had previously pleaded guilty in Swansea Crown Court to four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and failing to discharge her duty for the Oct. 30, 2021 incident. The River Cleddau in Haverfordwest was raging after heavy rains when Lloyd, who operated a side business called the Salty Dog, made the ill-fated decision to lead a group of beginners toward a dangerous weir where the churning waters created a deadly undertow. Lloyd had not warned the group about the obstacle nor instructed them how to get over it safely. While Lloyd managed to navigate her way down a narrow fish ramp that bisected the low dam, several customers were swept over the top and sucked under the turbulent brown waters. Paul O'Dwyer, who helped Lloyd lead the tour, managed to reach shore but returned to the river to help those in distress and was also killed. Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24, and Nicola Wheatley, 40, also drowned. 'I accept you are desperately sorry for what happened that day,' Justice Mary Stacey said. "'Your life has also been massively impacted. But being sorry for what happened is different from remorse.' Prosecutor Mark Watson said Lloyd and O'Dwyer were not remotely qualified to guide clients on the dangerous stretch of river. Defense lawyer David Elias read a statement from Lloyd, saying she took full blame for the incident. 'The pain for me has been unbearable but the pain for the families unmeasurable,' Lloyd wrote.
The Independent
23-04-2025
- The Independent
Paddleboard guide who led 4 people to their deaths on Welsh river imprisoned for 10 years
A former Welsh police officer who who led four people to their deaths in the worst paddleboarding tragedy in the U.K. was sentenced Wednesday to 10.5 years in prison for manslaughter. Nerys Bethan Lloyd, 39, had previously pleaded guilty in Swansea Crown Court to four counts of gross negligence manslaughter and failing to discharge her duty for the Oct. 30, 2021 incident. The River Cleddau in Haverfordwest was raging after heavy rains when Lloyd, who operated a side business called the Salty Dog, made the ill-fated decision to lead a group of beginners toward a dangerous weir where the churning waters created a deadly undertow. Lloyd had not warned the group about the obstacle nor instructed them how to get over it safely. While Lloyd managed to navigate her way down a narrow fish ramp that bisected the low dam, several customers were swept over the top and sucked under the turbulent brown waters. Paul O'Dwyer, who helped Lloyd lead the tour, managed to reach shore but returned to the river to help those in distress and was also killed. Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24, and Nicola Wheatley, 40, also drowned. 'I accept you are desperately sorry for what happened that day," Justice Mary Stacey said. "'Your life has also been massively impacted. But being sorry for what happened is different from remorse.' Prosecutor Mark Watson said Lloyd and O'Dwyer were not remotely qualified to guide clients on the dangerous stretch of river. Defense lawyer David Elias read a statement from Lloyd, saying she took full blame for the incident. 'The pain for me has been unbearable but the pain for the families unmeasurable," Lloyd wrote.
Scottish Sun
23-04-2025
- Scottish Sun
Unqualified ex-cop jailed over deaths of four people killed while paddleboarding in ‘extremely hazardous conditions'
Group sent on swollen river despite severe weather warnings RIVER TRAGEDY Unqualified ex-cop jailed over deaths of four people killed while paddleboarding in 'extremely hazardous conditions' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FORMER cop has been jailed after four people she led on a swollen river were killed in a paddleboarding tragedy. Paul O'Dwyer, 42, Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24, and Nicola Wheatley, 40, died after they got into difficulty on the River Cleddau, in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. 6 Nerys Lloyd admitted manslaughter after four people died while paddleboarding Credit: WNS Nerys Lloyd, who owns Salty Dog - the company operating the tour - pleaded guilty to four counts of gross negligence manslaughter. The 39-year-old has now been jailed for ten years and six months after also admitting a Health and Safety at Work Act offence. The horror unfolded when the group of nine set out on the paddleboarding tour on October 30, 2021. Lloyd, who now works as an operations manager for a charity, had let the tour go ahead despite "severe weather warnings". After the four paddleboarders were killed, she was heard saying: "I', going to jail for this". Swansea Crown Court heard she was "not remotely qualified" to run the tour and that several of the group had very limited experience. She advertised the trip on Facebook for £149 per person to include overnight accommodation and two 'fully' qualified instructors. But she had only gained a "basic entry-level qualification" after attending two courses over two days with fellow instructor and neighbour Paul O'Dwyer. Prosecutor Mark Lloyd KC said there was an "obvious potential for real danger". There had been heavy rain and "the river was in flood conditions" with a "visibly strong current". Mr Watson KC said none of the victims was aware of the weir or how to navigate it. Because of the heavy rain, around "two tonnes of water" were crossing a one-metre section of the weir every second. The group got caught in heavy downpours just after 9am as emergency crews were raced to the scene. The inexperienced paddleboarders were all "attached to their boards by way of a traditional ankle leash". 6 Lloyd was "not remotely qualified" to lead the tour Credit: WNS Former soldier Paul was killed as he jumped into the water in a bid to save the women. Mum Andrea, who worked as a dental therapist, was rushed to hospital with critical injuries but tragically couldn't be saved. Four other people on the paddleboarding trip survived the horror. In a series of victim impact statements, grieving family members blasted Lloyd for her "lack of remorse" following the deaths. Andrea's husband Mark broke down as he told how she was "happy and content" on the day of the trip. He next saw the mum when she was in hospital in a coma with cuts and bruising to her face and body. Mark also told how Andrea had the "most amazing bond" with their son Finn, who was seven at the time of the tragedy. He said the sound his son made when he discovered his mum had died will haunt him forever. The dad told how his son later said: "I want to die so I can be with my mummy." Mark added: "The failings of Nerys Lloyd are on a monumental scale. How can a serving police officer allow this to happen?" Morgan's mum Theresa Hall told the court her daughter's loss follows her like a shadow and slammed Lloyd for "guiding [her] to her death". Addressing the ex-cop, she added: "You in your arrogance have stopped me being able to fully grieve for my daughter. "Every day of my life is absolutely horrendous" knowing she died a "horrific death". Nicola's husband Darren Wheatley branded Lloyd "a disgraced business owner" and "vile person". He added: "You have hidden behind your carefully orchestrated smoke screen. "I hugged and kissed Nicola goodbye, she was so trusting. "The next time I would see her would be to identify her body in the mortuary. "I couldn't imagine what she had gone through. "This was not the Nicola that left our house less than 24 hours earlier but it is the face I see every day when I open my eyes." Kerry O'Dwyer, wife of Paul O'Dwyer, was saved during the paddleboard tour when she was pushed to safety by Andrea. She said her husband made a "devastating mistake" that day but he "died trying to save others" when he dived back in to the water. Kerry added: "Grief is in our household every single day. You carried on as if nothing ever happened. "Nerys, I do not believe you will ever learn from this, you've had three years to show remorse and yet you have continued like this is an inconvenience to your life." 6 Nicola Wheatley was killed in the tragedy Credit: WNS 6 Morgan Rogers was among the victims Credit: WNS 6 Andrea Powell died when the group got into difficulty
