THE operators of a food stall at a Pembrokeshire market will be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court next month after admitting a series of offences at Haverfordwest magistrates court.

Robert John Croft Hodges, junior, 28; 59-year-old Robert John Croft Hodges senior and Judith Elizabeth Hodges, aged 56, all of Heol-y-Gors, Ammanford, as well as the company, Marley Cwmgors Food Limited, were due to appear at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Thursday, January 10.

The trio failed to attend court, but magistrates agreed to hear the case in their absence.

At a previous hearing on November 19 all three defendants and the company admitted five charges. These included failing to put in place food safety procedures at Carew market on August 6, 2017, they also admitted failing to adequately label cheese to ensure its traceability on the same date.

Three further offences related to a second visit by food inspectors to Carew market on September 17.

The parents and son admitted failing to comply with a food safety improvement notice that was issued on August 21, 2017, requiring that all pre-packed food was labelled with the mandatory information.

They also admitted failing to keep documentation to demonstrate that cheese had been kept at the correct temperatures and failing to ensure that vacuum packed cheeses were safe for their intended shelf life. These were also stipulations of the August 21 notice.

Four further charges relating to inadequate and inaccurate labelling of cheese at Carew Market, due to be tried at Haverfordwest magistrates court, were dropped by Pembrokeshire County Council with no evidence offered.

The court heard that Hodges junior and the company also faced ten similar charges brought by Neath and Port Talbot Council.

These were heard by judge Geraint Walters at Swansea Crown Court on November 21. He asked that the Pembrokeshire charges come before him for sentencing, along with the Neath Port Talbot offences, on February 1.

Magistrates agreed to commit the case to Swansea Crown Court on February 1.

Sophie Davies, of Carew Airfield & Carew Market, said: "Marley Cwmgors Food Limited has not traded at Carew Market for over four months. All of our current food traders hold a 4 - 5 * food hygiene rating.'.