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Wales Online
23-05-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Care worker had sexual relationship with mentally disordered patient
Care worker had sexual relationship with mentally disordered patient Megan Hendy, 28, was moved to a different ward after concerns were raised when she and the victim became friends on social media Concerns were initially raised when Hendy became Facebook friends with the victim (Image: WALES NEWS SERVICE ) A care worker at a hospital formed an inappropriate sexual relationship with a patient. Megan Hendy, 28 from Ebbw Vale, began a relationship with a male patient seeking mental health treatment while she was working at the facility. A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard they exchanged almost 2,000 text messages and pictures and videos were later found of them kissing and engaging in sexual intercourse. Hendy was warned about her boundaries with male patients but the relationship, which took place while the victim was on leave from the hospital, continued. Clare Wilks, prosecuting, told the court the defendant had completed training about professionalism and professional boundaries with patients and had regular face-to-face contact with the patient. The court heard that concerns were raised about her boundaries with males when it was discovered she had become Facebook friends with the victim. As a result she was moved to another ward and completed further training. However, emails were later sent to the director of the hospital by the victim which included sexual emails and pictures of he and the defendant and screenshots of them calling each other. Article continues below Don't miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here . Some of the pictures showed them kissing and one video showed them engaging in sexual intercourse which was confirmed to be the defendant through a tattoo on the back of her leg. After Hendy was arrested and her phone was searched police found 1,700 pages of text messages including discussions about whether her work would find out, her being moved to another ward and about meeting up outside of the hospital before their relationship started to sour. Jeffrey Jones, defending, told the court Hendy has no previous convictions and maintained that the sexual activity had been consensual and not caused any psychological harm to the victim. Mr Jones said she was the sole carer for her grandfather with cancer, had a "plethora of good references" and had shown "genuine remorse." Hendy, of Ash Grove, Tyllwyn, pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity with a mentally disordered male while being a care worker. Article continues below Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke gave Hendy a 10-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered her to complete 30 rehabilitation days and 100 hours of unpaid work. She was also placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years and must pay a statutory victim surcharge.
Wales Online
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Oldest surviving twins in Britain turn 100
Oldest surviving twins in Britain turn 100 The twins - who now live hundreds of miles apart - celebrated their birthday with a Facetime call May Davies and June Field are thought to be the oldest identical twins in Britain (Image: WALES NEWS SERVICE ) A Welsh grandmother is celebrating her and her sister's joint 100th birthday. May Davies and June Field, known simply as 'The Twins', are believed to be the oldest surviving identical twins in Britain and turned 100 on Wednesday, May 21. They were born in Little Bealings, Suffolk, in 1925 before moving to Slough where they worked at Maltman's Green School. June still lives near Slough, while May moved to Llantwit Major after getting married, where she lived for more than 50 years before moving to Monmouthshire. They were the second youngest of six siblings and were born just minutes apart. Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here Mum-of-two May and mother-of-four June now live 120 miles apart but still share their unbreakable bond, including what some may call a twin intuition. They are planning on catching up over Facetime for their birthday. The sisters started out working as a cook's assistant and maid at a school before making airplane rivets at a factory in WWII. June's daughter, Jane Douglas, praised them as "very generous" with a "wicked" sense of humour. She said their secret was "sports - and sherry." Article continues below May Davies and June Field were born on May 21, 1925 (Image: WALES NEWS SERVICE ) Jane said: "She did lots of sports when she was older, like racket ball, table tennis and charity swims, which she started to do past the age of 70. "Also, having a glass of sherry on a Sunday - you couldn't miss that." June married John Field and worked at Pinewood Studios. To celebrate the big birthday, members of the family will visit each twin in their respective towns over the coming weeks, with June and May sending each other love via FaceTime. Jane added: "They have always done stuff together and known things about each other. For example, my mum's sister knew my mum had once hit her head because she had a headache all day. "She had fallen off her bike and had an accident, and my mum's twin sister knew. It's amazing when stuff like that happens." She continued: "Between the family, we have 18 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, so there are a few of us. She is always open to stuff and very generous, always giving of her time to help people if she can. "My dad passed away when I was 11, so it was always just me and her in the house. In that respect, she was my rock and I was hers. Article continues below "She's a proper nan's nan."
Scottish Sun
17-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Tourist, 27, jailed after killing Brit dad, 31, with vodka bottle on Prague stag do in horror ‘blind attack'
KILLER BEHIND BARS Tourist, 27, jailed after killing Brit dad, 31, with vodka bottle on Prague stag do in horror 'blind attack' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A GERMAN man has been jailed for seven years after killing a Welsh dad on a stag do in the Czech Republic. Joel Hoppe, 27, was sentenced this week at a Prague court for the murder of David 'Dai' Richards in September last year. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 David, a father of three, tragically died in September 2024 Credit: WALES NEWS SERVICE 2 David 'Dai' Richards with his partner Jola Simms Credit: WALES NEWS SERVICE David was a 31-year-old father-of-three from Mountain Ash in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Czech Police spokesman Jan Daněk said: "At first, everything was calm and the tourists were chatting normally. "Then there was a rift between them and one of them hit the other in the head with a vodka bottle. "The blow was so strong that the injured person immediately fell to the ground and unfortunately died in hospital."
The Irish Sun
17-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Tourist, 27, jailed after killing Brit dad, 31, with vodka bottle on Prague stag do in horror ‘blind attack'
A GERMAN man has been jailed for seven years after killing a Welsh dad on a stag do in the Czech Republic. Joel Hoppe, 27, was sentenced this week at a Prague court for the 2 David, a father of three, tragically died in September 2024 Credit: WALES NEWS SERVICE 2 David 'Dai' Richards with his partner Jola Simms Credit: WALES NEWS SERVICE David was a 31-year-old father-of-three from Mountain Ash in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Czech Police spokesman Jan Daněk said: "At first, everything was calm and the tourists were chatting normally. "Then there was a rift between them and one of them hit the other in the head with a vodka bottle. "The blow was so strong that the injured person immediately fell to the ground and unfortunately died in hospital."
Wales Online
17-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
'Oakwood wasn't just a theme park — it was a rite of passage and I plan to re-open it'
'Oakwood wasn't just a theme park — it was a rite of passage and I plan to re-open it' A local resident is behind a plan to revive the once thriving theme park, saying: 'I grew up in west Wales. I remember every queue, every hill climb, every first drop' Oakwood announced its immediate closure in March this year (Image: WALES NEWS SERVICE ) Earlier this year people in Wales were devastated by the news that the country's largest - and only one of two - theme parks was closing. Oakwood Theme Park announced the news of its immediate closure on March 4, after 40 years of providing fun for children and families. Oakwood is owned by Spanish leisure company, Aspro Parks, which has 68 other attractions across Europe. But one Welsh resident wants it back and is determined to make that happen. He said that, for him and many others growing up in Wales, the theme park "was a rite of passage". The resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, has set up an organisation called Richens Leisure Projects (RLP) which has set out a proposal to revive the much-loved theme park, having had so many fond memories of the park from their childhood. They said: "I grew up in west Wales. I remember every queue, every hill climb, every first drop. "Oakwood wasn't just a theme park — it was a rite of passage for kids in this country. You didn't just go there. You remembered it." Owners of the park said closure was the only viable option after facing financial difficulties and a dwindling number of visitors over the years. Article continues below The new proposal set out by RLP (Richens Leisure Projects) hopes to boost employment in the Pembrokeshire area where the park has been stripped of some of its famous rides, with an estimate of over 100 seasonal job opportunities. RLP said it had created a phased capital reinvestment plan to restore infrastructure at the site and to 're-establish Oakwood as a national leisure destination'. They continued: "This isn't about nostalgia — it's about rebuilding pride. It's about giving today's kids the same memories we had, only with something stronger behind it: community ownership and a long-term plan. "If the park's future is undecided, we'd welcome the chance to speak to the owners. We're not here to pressure — we're here to restore what still means something." "This has been a quiet, locally driven effort to put a serious and respectful proposal forward for Oakwood. It's about long-term sustainability, community benefit, and giving a much-loved Welsh destination a proper future — not a rebrand or a quick flip. "Right now, the proposal has been submitted to the current owners and remains open. We've tried to do things properly, without noise or pressure. But when something this significant sits dormant — and there's a credible route forward — it's natural that people start asking questions. "I'm not in a position to disclose financials or backers while the ownership remains unresolved — but the figures are solid, the strategy is backed by real modelling, and the ambition matches the scale of what Oakwood could be. This isn't a concept. It's a prepared, actionable plan that can move the moment a conversation opens." RLP has contacted the current owner of the park with its proposal but no formal response has yet been received. WalesOnline has also contacted Aspro Parks for a comment but has so far not received a response. The news of Oakwood's demise brought differing opinions as some believed it should have closed years prior, whilst many were sad to see the once booming attraction shut. Article continues below After news of the closure broke a petition was started within days in an attempt to save the theme park. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here
