The Chief Officer for the Special Constabulary for Dyfed-Powys Police is celebrating after graduating with a first class BA honours in Law and Public Services.

As well as studying full time, S/CO Cairn Newton-Evans has also juggled his academic commitments with his role with the police force.

Eight years after he was attacked in a shocking homophobic assault, Cairn who lives in Ammanford, is now working to help others battling against homophobia and other forms of discrimination.

The 27-year-old is a regular volunteer and a passionate advocate for LGBT rights - was put forward in the citizenship category for having “joined the police to try to stop such attacks happening to others”.

Having now graduated, Cairn is looking forward to juggling even more responsibilities as he embarks on a Masters course in Applied Criminal Justice and Criminology as well as starting a part-time lecturing role at UWTSD where he’ll be teaching on the Policing course.

He’ll be doing all this alongside working 16 hours a week in his voluntary role.

As well as his policing and university commitments, the former Amman Valley Comprehensive pupil has also been working night shifts in his local supermarket to finance his studies.

“Quite often I’d be going straight from a night shift into Uni but graduating has made it all worthwhile,” said Cairn.

“This is the culmination of a six year journey for me.

“I originally joined the special constabulary the same time as doing my HND in Technical Theatre but volunteering as a special constable led me to realise that policing was my passion – so my career path changed slightly to what I expected it be.”

“Doing a course that fitted with my line of work made it so much easier and more interesting as I could instantly apply what I was learning to my work and vice versa.

“The course has inspired me to further my education and my career as I’ve been learning from people from within my industry who’ve had such long careers and have a wide variety of policing and public sector roles. It really inspired me even more.

“I now can’t wait to start my MA degree as well as lecturing on the Policing courses at UWTSD – I’m so, so excited. I already travel around colleges and schools youth groups talking about equality, diversity and policing in general so talking to a lecture hall full of students won’t faze me. It’s just nice to apply more of my training and knowledge onto to degree students. It’s a challenge I can’t wait to tackle.”

Bronwen Williams, Programme Director for the Law and Public Services portfolio, said: “Cairn is a fantastic ambassador for the university. He regularly visits schools and colleges promoting the course and I’m delighted that he’s going to continue to work with us.

“He’s also helped to ensure that our students are involved with the Dyfed Powys police force and regularly coaches other students.

“He’s a perfect ambassador and I’m very proud of all he’s achieved.”