Toby Wells, a trainee at one of South West Wales’ leading independent accountancy firms Clay Shaw Butler, has successfully passed his Chartered Accountant exams and has now qualified as a Chartered Accountant.

Toby started with Clay Shaw Butler in July 2015, after studying at Swansea University and gaining a 1st class BSc degree in Accountancy and Finance.

Toby is 24 and from Bynea, Llanelli. He was a pupil at Coedcae School before attending Swansea University. He is a big fan of the Scarlets and a keen golfer.

Mark Jones, Director of Clay Shaw Butler, said: “We are delighted with the results that Toby has achieved. These are some of the most difficult professional qualifications in the world.

“We are very committed to providing opportunities to the next generation of accountants, we have recently taken on two new trainees and a further five are studying towards their professional qualifications. I would like to wish them all the best of luck as they work towards becoming qualified with us.”

Clay Shaw Butler has a long history of helping young people to enter the accountancy profession and has helped a number of students and school leavers – a commitment that is recognised by the firm holding the Investors in People Award.

Photo above:

Toby Wells, right, with Clay Shaw Butler director Mark Jones.

About Clay Shaw Butler:

Clay Shaw Butler is a unique, innovative firm of accountants that aims to deliver the highest possible standard of expertise through a team of Qualified Chartered Accountants, Chartered Certified Accountants, Chartered Tax Advisers, experienced senior staff, trainee accountants and business consultants.

Established in Carmarthen more than 40 years ago, the firm’s portfolio of clients has increased significantly with clients based locally, across the UK and overseas.

The team is made up of 24 professional staff (including three administrative staff members). They have a combined experience of more than 250 years and include Welsh speakers at all levels. The firm holds the Investors in People Award.

Weblink – http://www.clayshawbutler.com

The team at Clay Shaw Butler can be contacted on 01267 228500.

The firm is on Twitter. Look for @clayshawbutler.

An illegal dog breeder has been handed a suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay over £200,000 after selling sick puppies with false pedigree and veterinary papers.

Dylan Huw Thomas, of New Inn, Llandeilo, was caught running a fraudulent dog breeding business by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Trading Standards team, who carried out a lengthy investigation over a number of years to bring him to justice.

Thomas, 59, deliberately mis-led his customers, selling puppies across the country – some of which were severely ill and required immediate veterinary treatment, and including one chocolate Labrador who had to be put down.

He claimed to be a registered breeder when he was not, adulterated lineage documents and veterinary cards to cover his tracks, and often hid behind a false identity.

Several concerned customer of Thomas contacted the local authority after becoming concerned at the welfare of puppies they had bought from him, or about the paperwork that came with them.

Customers say he would appear ‘nervous’ or ‘shifty’ and evaded their questions.

Adverts would often state that puppies were raised at home amongst family and children, when in fact it has been difficult to trace exactly where the puppies have come from.

He would travel to his customers with the puppies saying he happened to be in their area, and if asked where the puppy’s mother was would say she was ‘under the weather’.

Following the Trading Standards investigation, and in the face of overwhelming evidence, Thomas pleaded guilty to 14 separate offences under the Fraud Act 2006 and the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981.

He was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (December 20, 2018) where His Honour Judge Geraint Walters handed him a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered him to pay £215,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Passing the sentence, he told Thomas: “You went into this business with your eyes open when farming was difficult. Easy money – you were deceiving people you were dealing with.”

Cllr Philip Hughes, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board Member for Public Protection, praised the Trading Standards team for their thorough investigation which helped bring Thomas to justice, and said he hoped this case would act as a deterrent to other illegal breeders.

“Dylan Huw Thomas deliberately mis-led his customers and made a lot of money through selling puppies without proper welfare checks and documentation,” he said.

“This is a serious crime with serious consequences, and we’re glad we were able to bring him to court and see this sentence handed down.”

He added: “This should be a lesson to anyone who breeds dogs – breeding and selling without proper licensing, documentation and regard for the welfare and wellbeing of puppies and their mothers will not be tolerated.”

The council has urged people to ensure they carry out proper checks before purchasing a puppy advertised for sale to avoid funding the illegal dog breeding trade.

They advise that people should see mum and puppy together at the place of breeding, documents should be thoroughly checked, and enquiries should also be made with veterinary practices and local authorities.

 Related links:

• Trading Standards
• Animal welfare

Ben John has confirmed his retirement from rugby following a year out of the game after suffering a series of head injuries.

The 27-year-old last played on Boxing day 2017, against the Scarlets, when he left the action shortly before half-time following an aerial collision.

That was the third such incident to affect Ben during 2017, leading him to announce he was taking an extended 12 month break from the game.

His service to his home Region was recognised when he was presented with his shirt at the end of season dinner in April, as one of the players leaving at the end of the campaign.

Now, having established himself as a personal trainer in London, Ben has opted to hang up his boots permanently. He said:

“It’s taken so long for me to recover, after thinking about it long and hard, the best decision for me, the only one really, was to retire. 

“Rugby has been my life but I realise that my long term health is more important so, in the end, my decision was an easy one, particularly having spent time outside of the game and recognising there is life away from the rugby pitch.

“It hasn’t been easy for me over the last couple of years but I’m extremely grateful to everybody at the Ospreys, players, staff and fans, for the support I’ve had. They’ve been absolutely brilliant.

“I’m not going to be a stranger. The Ospreys are my team and this is my Region. I’ve already been back to watch the boys and I intend keeping in touch, supporting the Ospreys from the stand.”

The former Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr pupil’s early rugby days were spent at Loughor RFC.

He then represented his home region at age-grade level before graduating to the Principality Premiership with Aberavon, scoring eight tries in 60 matches for the Wizards.

Capped at all Wales age-grade levels, he went to the 2010 Junior World Championships in Argentina, just months after making his Ospreys debut in an LV= Cup win over Leeds Carnegie at the Liberty Stadium.

He made 79 Ospreys appearances, scoring 15 tries.

Parents across Carmarthenshire are being reminded that they need to apply online for their child’s school place.

Admission to school is not an automatic process, applications must be made to the county council by January 31. Parents must apply online for nursery or primary places and will be informed of the outcome of the primary application on April 16, 2019 and nursery applications in October 2019.

If a child was born between September 1, 2015 and August 31, 2016, they could start full time school in September 2019, or January/April 2020.

Children who were born between September 1, 2016 and August 31, 2017, could start school part time in January, April or September 2020.

Applications can be made here

Applications can also be made on a phone or tablet, or for those without internet access they can contact their local school who will be happy to assist, or visit their local library to use the computers available there.

Education executive board member Cllr Glynog Davies said: “Although parental choice will always be a consideration, no child can be guaranteed a place at the school of their choice. However it is essential that applications are made before the closing date in order for their wishes to be considered. I would urge parents to get their primary and nursery online application forms in by the deadline in order to ensure their wishes are considered when school places are allocated.”

 Related Link:

• School Admissions / Changing schools

A road improvement scheme will soon be introduced to benefit drivers and pedestrians in Ammanford town centre.

An additional lane for traffic turning right onto College Street from Margaret Street is among the changes set to be put in place.

Under the Carmarthenshire County Council scheme, the College Street carriageway will also be widened between its junction with Margaret Street and the access road to the bus station and car park.

The works are being funded by the Welsh Government.

Other scheme features will include the relocation of a pedestrian crossing point and the introduction of a pedestrian refuge to help people crossing the road.

Cllr Hazel Evans, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board Member for Environment, said: “This will be the latest road improvement scheme introduced in the county to benefit motorists and pedestrians as we look to continually improve traffic flows and road safety across Carmarthenshire.

“These works will follow on from a number of other road improvements in Ammanford town centre in recent years, including the construction of a retaining wall outside the former police station and the essential diversion of utilities on the carriageway nearby.

“Conscious of minimising disruption to traffic, the planned scheme at the junction of Margaret Street and College Street – which addresses concerns highlighted by local people – will only start once ongoing improvement works on Wind Street have finished.

“We’ll also do all we can to minimise disruption for motorists and pedestrians while the works are taking place.”

It’s anticipated work on this scheme will start by the end of February, 2019.

The council will update the nearby community on a start date and a rough timescale for the works as soon as the detail is confirmed.

Tax reminders from the team at Carmarthen-based chartered accountants Clay Shaw Butler.

The following Tax Events are due on 19th January 2019:

PAYE quarterly payments are due for small employers for the pay periods 6th October 2018 to 5th January 2019

This deadline is relevant to small employers and contractors only. As a small employer with income tax, national insurance and student loan deductions of less than £1,500 a month you are required to make payment to HMRC of the income tax, national insurance and student loan deductions on a quarterly basis.

Where the payment is made electronically the deadline for receipt of cleared payment is 22nd January 2019. In year interest will be charged if payment is made late. Penalties also apply.

PAYE, Student loan and CIS deductions are due for the month to 5th January 2019

This deadline is relevant to employers who have made PAYE deductions from their employees’ salaries and to contractors who have paid subcontractors under the CIS. 

Employers are required to make payment to HMRC of the income tax, national insurance and student loan deductions. Contractors are required to make payment to HMRC of the tax deductions made from subcontractors under the CIS. 

Where the payment is made electronically the deadline for receipt of cleared payment is 22nd January 2019. In year interest will be charged if payment is made late. Penalties also apply.