A PORT Talbot footballer who inflicted a catalogue of horrific injuries on his partner in a jealous attack in her home has been jailed.

Andrew Thorne, aged 30, fractured several ribs and punctured the lung of his partner during a four-hour ordeal.

Swansea Crown Court heard Thorne's then-girlfriend Katie Purchase had picked him up from the Red Dragon pub in Port Talbot on December 1 but he argued with her, accusing her of looking at one of his male friends. When they went outside, he smashed the side light of her car.

As she drove him to her Baglan home, he repeatedly punched her arm, at one point, the pain stopped her driving.

Thorne, who admitted grievous bodily harm and criminal damage, continued to punch her and threw her mobile phone out of the window.

When they arrived home, he kicked her in her stomach before throwing her to the floor and kicking in her head and stamping on her head.

When Miss Purchase's father arrived for a chance visit, she covered her bruised arms with a jumper, and put on make-up to cover her black eye.

Thorne, of Vivian Park Drive, Sandfields, Port Talbot, then went to the kitchen and returned with a blunt knife which he held to her stomach and eyes.

Thorne then used the knife to hack at her hair, leaving a pile of it on the floor which was later discovered by police.

He also grabbed her throat and bit her hand before she could escape.

Thorne has a previous conviction for domestic violence, the court heard, after he headbutted a former partner.

His barrister, James Hartson, said Thorne accepted he had lost control and said he was embarrassed and "truly ashamed".

Judge Paul Thomas, sentencing him said: "You beat her and assaulted her and in an act to humiliate her and to make her less attractive in your eyes, at least to other men, you cut off her hair," said the judge.

"It was a cowardly attack on a young woman who was at your mercy, you showed her none."

Before jailing Thorne for two-and-a-half-years, Judge Thomas said: "I have to mark the court's disapproval for such appalling treatment of women in a domestic setting as a warning to people like you who cannot control your drink or your jealousy and lash out and use women as some kind of punchbag."

A restraining order was also granted.

A CHARITY working with people facing homelessness has seen a 75 per cent increase in people knocking on its door for help.

Caer Las, which has an access point in The Strand, saw 347 people this quarter seeking help, compared with 198 in the same quarter last year.

Dan Jolley, Caer Las business development manager, said: "We were expecting an increase, but not of the scale that we have seen. The benefits changes haven't even begun to take effect yet. They only came into effect on April 1, these figures represent January to March.

"We haven't seen the impact from the bedroom tax yet, but are starting to have clients who are running into difficulties because they have too many bedrooms because there is a shortage of houses with one or two bedrooms.

"We haven't seen the impact of the UK Government's welfare reform programme yet, but are expecting another dramatic increase in the number of people accessing our services.

"One of our biggest worries is direct payment of benefits when the universal credit begins.

"There have been trials in Torfaen that have seen rent arrears increase significantly.

"Services that are already being run on a shoestring are under increasing pressure to serve a larger client group. We're having to work smarter and be more innovative when it comes to delivering services to vulnerable client groups in Swansea."

The access point is on The Strand behind Swansea train station and provides advice, advocacy and support to people who are homeless or are threatened with homelessness.

Even compared with the beginning of the 2012/13 financial year, the numbers have rocketed. In the first quarter 207 people used the access point.

Over the past eight years the figures have risen and fallen. However, in comparison, in the first quarter of 2002/05 52 people visited the access point.

Stuart is one of those people to have sought help from Caer Las. The 29-year- old from Townhill went to Caer Las following a relationship breakdown.

He had spent three nights sleeping in his car and was referred to Caer Las via Swansea Council's housing options. Caer Las helped him to access counselling, and found him accommodation in a shared house in Port Tennant.

Stuart also needed help with his current employment support allowance benefit and Caer Las helped him to complete a disability living allowance application.

The team also helped him with resettlement items for his property.

Stuart said: "Without the help from Caer Las I would still be in my car, their support has been fantastic. I'm coming to terms with my situation with the counselling I'm receiving and feel like I'm getting my life back on track."

The charity's executive director Jim Bird Waddington said of the increase in clients: "We had to double check these figures, we were expecting an increase, but this is incredible. The welfare reform program is really starting to have an impact now and we're seeing a similar increase in our Routes Project in Port Talbot."

If you would like to volunteer to help at Caer Las call 01792 646071; if you would like to make a donation, such as food and blankets, call 01792 467027.

IT'S as big as it gets — that's how Alun Wyn Jones describes the three-game run-in that will determine whether the Ospreys or the Scarlets feature in the Pro12 play-offs.

There is an outside chance that one of the other sides could miss out on a spot in the top four.

But the likelihood is it will come down to a straight shootout between the two neighbours, who are locked together on points in the table: the Ospreys in fourth, the Scarlets one spot below.

And, ahead of the home game with Treviso tomorrow evening, Ospreys skipper Jones is under no illusions about the size of the stakes.

"With ourselves and the Scarlets vying for that final spot, it's as big now as it can be," he said.

"The final three rounds of games will see who features in the top four.

"It would be easier for us if some of the other teams dropped points, but we just have to focus on ourselves and look for three wins.

"That is the challenge — to play out the season unbeaten. It will be difficult, with Treviso at home and Glasgow and Leinster away, but we are going to have a crack at it.

"All we can do is target the wins and put ourselves in a good spot.

"If we miss out because another team picks up three bonus-point successes, there's not much we can do then."

The Ospreys have lost just one out of their last ten league games, a record that has propelled them into the play-off reckoning after a disastrous start that saw them lose their opening three encounters.

Despite their recent run, which includes a 52-19 hiding of the Dragons last time out in Swansea, the Pro12 champions believe they can still up their game.

"We have had a bit to work on this week but that hasn't been a bad thing," said Jones.

"The aim is to build on our display against the Dragons rather than against the Blues a week last Saturday because we weren't at our best in Cardiff.

"We were a bit down after the Blues game, but that shows where we have come from.

"We always have the mentality that we can perform better. It's not a bad way to think.

"Treviso will be a good test.

"They've beaten us twice this season, so we are under no illusions about what they offer.

"They are one of the most physical sides in the tournament and have good backs as well, so we will need to be at our best."

ROB McCusker believes Scott Williams's decision to stay at Parc y Scarlets has provided a timely boost for the region.

Simon Easterby's side go into tonight's crunch game with Glasgow with the fallout from George North's imminent departure to Northampton still hanging over them.

North's switch to the Aviva Premiership has played its part in a major rift between the Welsh Rugby Union and the four regions.

It has also led some to question the Scarlets' ambitions. But with Wales centre Williams set to agree a contract extension, McCusker reckons there are some positive signs coming out of Pemberton.

"It's great for the club, it shows the club's ambitions that we can keep people like Scott," said the skipper.

"He's been here a while. I'm sure he's had lots of good offers, but it's great that he's staying. There's a lot going on, but the people who are here at the moment are what's important and we're focusing on what we can do before the end of the season.

"Everything else is out of our hands so while we're here we'll try to achieve something special before going our separate ways."

The Scarlets take on Glasgow knowing that one slip could end their RaboDirect Pro12 play-off hopes.

They are currently a place behind fourth-placed Ospreys, but have three home games before the curtain falls on the campaign, while their rivals have a more difficult run-in.

After Glasgow's visit, the Scarlets face the Blues and Treviso.

"Against the teams who haven't got anything to play for, they can just come out and play," said McCucker.

"Tonight we've both got something to play for — there are not going to be that many chances out there.

"The team who takes those chances when they do arrive will be victorious.

"We have some young guys, but guys who have been exposed to a lot of high-level rugby and some pressurised situations — World Cup semi-finals and Six Nations deciders and the rest.

"I think we're more than equipped."

On paper, this appears the toughest of the Scarlets' remaining fixtures.

The Scottish side sit top of the table and have only lost five league matches all season.

"We seem to say it's a big game every week, but in the context of our season, this is the biggest," added McCusker.

"Glasgow are pushing for silverware and going particularly well. This is huge for our ambitions of finishing in the top four.

"Finishing fifth the last couple of seasons has been agonising. We haven't quite done enough. But we've done a lot of hard work this year, as we do every year, and we feel like we're that little bit closer.

"I think if we didn't make it this would be the toughest year of all.

"It's in our hands."

MICHAEL Laudrup reckons left-back sensation Ben Davies could be a future star in central defence.

Davies has enjoyed a spectacular breakthrough season at Swansea City having been thrust into the first team after Neil Taylor shattered his ankle back in September.

With Taylor now closing in on a comeback, questions are being raised about how Laudrup will keep his two Welsh international full-backs happy.

And the Swansea manager has suggested that moving Davies into a central role could be one solution.

"In the future, my personal opinion is that Ben can be a good left-footed centre-back," Laudrup said.

"Maybe in some people's minds over here he lacks a little bit of height for that position, but I think in time he can play there.

"He is getting stronger in the air and physically he is getting stronger as well.

"And left-footed centre-backs are hard to find. Look how many sides play with two right-footed centre-backs — we are one of them."

Taylor played 90 minutes for Swansea's development squad earlier this week, the first game he has completed since suffering that awful injury against Sunderland.

He has now made three appearances for the under-21s and is hopeful of seeing some first-team action before the season is out.

With Taylor and Davies available, Laudrup will be spoilt for choice on the left flank of his defence.

"For a great part of the season we have spoken about the lack of alternatives in certain positions but never at left-back — even though we only had one all season," Laudrup added.

"We brought in Dwight (Tiendalli) after Neil got injured, but he is right-footed and is better at right-back.

"We have only had one left-footed left-back for almost all of the season and next season I want two players for each position, so I see Ben and Neil now as two left-backs."

Gareth Vincent

HUNDREDS of Port Talbot residents are set to share another £2 million windfall.

They say lightning never strikes twice — but for residents in Port Talbot it seems that good luck certainly does as the area is set to share another cash win with charity lottery, People's Postcode Lottery.

All players of the lottery who live in SA12 7 have won the latest £2 million postcode millions draw.

This is the second Postcode Millions win for Port Talbot in the last 12 months, and the third for residents in South Wales.

Only last April, players in the SA12 6 postcode area shared £2 million, with student Lauren Teesdale, 22, scooping the top prize of £400,000.

In October lucky Newport residents also scooped a £2 million win.

Those living in the full winning postcode — which will be revealed at a party in the town on Saturday, April 27 — have won the lion's share of the prize.

Winners will be invited, along with the general public, to the celebrations.

People's Postcode Lottery ambassador and rugby legend Scott Quinnell said: "It's fantastic news to see another postcode here in South Wales share £2 million — and one that's so close to last April's winning postcode.

"Unbelievable! Hundreds of players playing in the SA12 7 postcode will walk away with a cheque from our Postcode Millions party on Saturday, April 27 — what a great way to start the summer.

"Congratulations to all of the players and good luck."

Players of the Postcode lottery have raised more than £24.7 million to date for good causes, including Missing People and Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres.

Debbie Horrigan, centre head at Maggie's South West Wales, said: "We want to wish all of the players in Port Talbot the best of luck for what is set to be a life-changing weekend on April 27 and we also want to say a massive thank you.

"Players of People's Postcode Lottery have raised a huge amount of money that ensures Maggie's doors are open to support local people affected by cancer."

More than £46,000 has also been awarded to 19 good causes in the SA postcode area from People's Postcode Trust, a grant- giving body funded entirely by players of People's Postcode Lottery.

Swansea-based Undercurrents Foundation is one of the local projects to have received support, having been awarded more than £4,500 to support The Sol Cinema.

Organisers say they will reveal more details as to the location of the celebratory party in Port Talbot — and the minimum amount won — in the near future.

UPDATE: 8.57am.

Traffic is running smoothly again through Swansea city centre, following earlier congestion.

Queues of traffic on the West Way, between Oystermouth Road and the Quadrant bus station, have eased. 

And sheep have been cleared from a stretch of the M4, which had limited traffic to 50mph, between  junction 47 and junction 48. 

A NEW restaurant, plus four flats, could be coming to Killay.

Abdul Latif has applied to Swansea Council for planning permission for a replacement three-storey detached building on land at the rear of 436 Gower Road.

If given the go-ahead, the restaurant will be on the basement and ground floor, with the flats above.

Mr Latif's address is given on the application form as the Rose Indienne restaurant, St Helen's Road.

The new build would replace the Klay Oven Restaurant.

A DECISION on the £650 million Swansea Bay tidal lagoon should be made in Wales and not Westminster, it has been claimed.

Plaid Cymru councillor Del Morgan said the Welsh Government should have the power to rule on such important developments.

Representatives of the developers gave a presentation on the proposals during a Glynneath Town Council meeting.

Mr Morgan, who is the town council's leading Plaid member, said: "It is frustrating we have go to London for the decision.

"We should be making these decisions in Wales but at this moment in time, because of the scale of the project, this cannot happen."

The aim is to be build the looped six-mile long structure directly south of Swansea Docks, generating enough electricity to power 107,000 homes.

AN application for a part two-storey, part single- storey extension at 4 Caswell Road, Langland, has been submitted to Swansea Council. The applicant is Mark Pritchard.

REAL nappies have grown up since you wore them when you were a baby.

That's the message from waste campaigners in Wales, who would like to see more parents ditch disposables and return to the real cloth.

Next week Welsh councils will link up with real nappy retailers and aim to convince parents of their virtues.

Real Nappy Week is being backed by Waste Awareness Wales, whose waste reduction officer Lyndsey Stewart said: "In a two-and-a half year period, a baby will use around 5,000 nappies, which costs parents roughly £800.

"If you choose real nappies, you can get everything you need online for as little as £80, and even after adding £1 a week for an extra load of washing you'll still be saving over £500.

"Real nappies have come a long way since simple terry squares were the only kind on the market. They are very easy to use and are now available in many different styles and designs."

Parents of babies in Swansea are being offered £100 to make the switch.

Swansea Council said 25 parents had taken the offer up since December.

It is estimated that Welsh families throw away around 200 million disposable nappies every year.

SWANSEA Council has passed an emergency motion to help protect people in the city from the "bedroom tax".

However, the Labour Party was accused of "playing to the public gallery" and reacting to an anti-cuts campaign protest when its leader tabled the last-minute motion.

David Phillips called for the issue to be debated at a full meeting of the council.

It concluded: "Swansea Council resolves to take all legal and financially viable measures to protect the people of Swansea from the worst of the impact of the Conservative/Liberal Democrat benefit cuts."

Mr Phillips told the meeting: "It is deeply, deeply offensive, in fact repugnant, that a cabinet of Tory and Lib Dem millionaires takes so much pleasure in lecturing hard- pressed families and individuals — people who need our support — about the need for austerity and reform.

"That it is the poor that need to make sacrifices to combat an economic situation they did not cause, while they — the millionaires and the cronies of the bankers who are the real culprits, award themselves a £100,000 tax cut.

"It is also offensive and immoral that these millionaires categorise the poor and the unemployed as unworthy of support — indeed deliberately stigmatise them as outsiders in society, the 'undeserving poor'; benefit scroungers warranting only society's contempt."

He added: "Their use of the term 'welfare reform' is deliberately intended and deliberately divisive.

"By recasting substantial social security reductions as welfare reform, the Westminster Government not only hides behind a smokescreen of necessary process reorganisation, but provides the context for the offensive rubric that stigmatises, indeed demonises, the recipients of benefits."

However, Lib Dem leader Chris Holley said his party could not support the motion because it had been tabled so late that members had not had time to research it to respond.

"It is a very serious problem, which everybody recognises," he added.

"It dates back to the banks having the freedom to practically destroy the economy and hundreds of thousands of people are paying for that now.

"I believe that everybody has to hope that we can get out of this financial situation we are in. If we do nothing we would be in the same position as the likes of Spain and Greece."

Referring to the coalition Government in Westminster, Mr Holley also told the meeting: "We are lifting people out of tax, with the personal allowance going up — that will affect a significant group of people."

Ioan Richard, who is an independent member of the opposition, proposed an amendment to the motion, which was voted down, and questioned why it had not been given to one of Swansea's three MPs when it was debated in the House of Commons.

He said: "There are stories in my ward — I have people of middle age now living alone in a three-bedroom house who are faced with downsizing, but there are no one-bedroom properties to rent in my ward."

Mr Richard added: "This point should have been made in Westminster."

Swansea Council's Conservative leader Paxton-Hood Williams questioned the timing of the motion.

He said: "I'm surprised it's had to come here as an emergency motion — these welfare reforms have been in the public domain for a number of months and there has been plenty of time to put this to council.

"It strikes me as opportunistic because we had a demo outside."

Mr Hood-Williams also condemned the work of the Labour Governments in Cardiff and Westminster for the way they had managed Wales together for 11 years.

Lib Dem councillor Peter Black also spoke out in the meeting.

He said: "I support the desire to help as far as the last paragraph is concerned, but the rest is just an elongated rant and parts are accurate and parts are inaccurate."

Opposition members abstained from the vote, but it was passed following a yes vote from Labour.

"Council deplores the cruelty of the Tory/Lib-Dem Coalition in their relentless ideological attacks on poor, disabled and vulnerable people under the cloak of 'welfare reform'.

Council further deplores the actions of the millionaire members of the ConDem Government who awarded themselves a £100,000 tax cut, while at the same time cutting the benefits to some of the poorest people in society; and finds their cynical demonisation of benefit claimants as deeply and morally offensive.

In Swansea these cuts will affect the young and the old, families, lone parents and single people, those in work and those seeking it, those chronically sick, those disabled. They will almost certainly lead to greater homelessness, increased levels of debt, increased ill health and disruption to communities. They will undoubtedly impact on Council's attempts to combat poverty and deprivation and improve the life chances of children and young people.

Council resolves to take all legal and financially viable measures to protect the people of Swansea from the worst of the impact of the Conservative/ Liberal Democrat benefit cuts."

POST Office workers will stage further strike action against closures, job security and pay.

Members of the Communication Workers Union will walk out for a half day strike on Friday, April 19, at 2.30pm.

It is expected up to 4,000 staff will take part in the industrial action which follows walk outs in crown post offices over franchising on Easter Saturday. The CWU is fighting against Post Office plans to close or franchise 76 Crown offices which it claims would affect more than 800 jobs.

The union is seeking to protect jobs and services and secure a fair pay rise for staff who have had no rise since April 2011.

Members voted by almost nine to one, or 88 per cent, in favour of strike action. CWU members at Post Offices in Carmarthen, Morriston, Neath and Port Talbot are expected to take part in the latest industrial action.

A spokeswoman for the Post Office has condemned the union call for further strikes and claimed it will only cause needless disruption to customers rather than change modernisation plans.

Kevin Gilliland, network and sales director at the Post Office, said: "The CWU is in denial of the need for us to modernise our Crown network.

"It is currently losing £40million a year of public money.

"There is no room for manoeuvre and further strike action will only cause needless disruption to customers."

THE war of words between the Welsh Rugby Union and the four regions continues.

The two have been on a collision course for a number of weeks, a row seemingly sparked by the WRU speaking publicly on the George North transfer saga and their desire to open talks on central contracts for leading Welsh players.

After claims that the regions wanted to have a say in who should be the next Wales coach, Regional Rugby Wales — the body which represents the Ospreys, Scarlets, Blues and Dragons — hit back last night.

A statement read: "We repeat our call for independent arbitration because it is clearly a much more appropriate way to conduct discussions.

"We would like to make very clear that the regions are not interested in 'control' of the national game.

"We fully understand and respect that Welsh rugby enthusiasts would prefer to simply enjoy their weekend of action rather than be subjected to the ins and outs of the debate surrounding the need for change to the structure of the game.

"However, we want to deal in facts."

A SECOND round of drop-in MMR vaccination clinics is being held in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend today in response to the continuing major measles outbreak.

Hospitals across the ABM University Health Board region last week staged the drop-in clinics, administering more than 1,700 vaccinations.

Morriston Hospital's clinic will take place in a different venue to last week, at the Burns and Plastics Outpatients Department, while at Singleton it will be at the paediatric outpatients department.

Neath Port Talbot's children's assessment unit will also hold a clinic, as well as the Princess of Wales main outpatients department.

The clinics will be held between 10am and 4pm. Next week, schools hosting vaccinations clinics are:

Wednesday and Thursday, April 17 and 18, at Bishop Vaughan Catholic School, Swansea, where 527 pupils are believed to be at risk of catching measles, and Bishop Gore Comprehensive, Swansea, with 488 at risk.

Wednesday, April 17, at Bishopston Comprehensive, Swansea, with 446 pupils at risk.

Thursday, April 18, at Morriston Comprehensive, Swansea, with 327 pupils at risk.

Friday, April 19, at Cwmtawe Community School, Neath Port Talbot, with 245 pupils at risk.

THE leader of Swansea Council is backing calls for people to take up the MMR vaccination.

Councillor David Phillips (pictured) said it is paramount that people take the jab for protection against measles.

He said: "This is a worrying time for parents because measles can be unpleasant and is potentially a fatal virus. The way to beat it and for people to put their minds at rest is to get vaccinations for those children who aren't vaccinated.

"So I would urge parents to heed the advice from Public Health Wales and get their children vaccinated as soon as they can.

"We have been working closely with Public Health Wales and ABMU to get the message out to parents. Next week public health experts are visiting four of our schools to offer vaccinations to those children whose parents have given permission.

"I think this shows there is a lot of commitment by all those involved to tackle the problem. But the key message to parents is that they should play their part and get their unvaccinated children vaccinated."

The leader of the Welsh Lib Dems has also joined the calls, and the measles outbreaks spreads up the Swansea Valley.

Kirsty Williams, whose constituency is Brecon and Radnorshire, said:

"It is very worrying that the measles outbreak has continued to spread and the numbers continue to rise at an alarming rate. Measles is highly infectious and in rare circumstances can have very serious consequences.

"The evidence is absolutely clear, the MMR jab is totally safe but having measles is not. If your child has not been vaccinated, please do so as quickly as possible."

Visitors to the Evening Post website have also been discussing the measles outbreak.

Neathguard said: "Could it be that previous generations knowing how serious measles was had their children vaccinated, and as the decease became less and less, parents became complacent and did not have the jab?"

The fight against the Swansea measles outbreak has been taken online.

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board has created individual web pages on its website for each of the initial schools to host vaccination clinics.

The five schools, which are to be followed by others, are the first to hold the clinics as they are believed to have the highest number of pupils vulnerable to the infection.

The web pages provide parents with information about their school and the vaccine programme, general information about measles and MMR, and downloadable consent forms.

And schools are sending links to these pages via the text messaging systems they use to communicate with parents.

Bishop Vaughan – www.abm.wales.nhs.uk/bishopv

Bishop Gore - www.abm.wales.nhs.uk/bishopg

Bishopston - www.abm. wales.nhs.uk/bishopcomp

Morriston - www.abm. wales.nhs.uk/morrcomp

Cwmtawe – www.abm.wales.nhs.uk/cwm