Crime
Pembroke man jailed for driving offences as arson case sent to Crown Court
A PEMBROKE man has been jailed after admitting a string of driving offences and an assault on a police officer – and now faces a Crown Court trial for arson with intent to endanger life.
Mark Bloxham, 41, of Greenfield Farm, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Sept 29) for sentencing after a series of offences committed earlier in the month.
The court heard that on Friday, September 5, Bloxham was stopped on the A4139 Orange Way in Pembroke while driving a green Daihatsu. He had no insurance or MOT, and was already disqualified from driving.
A roadside breath test showed he had 111 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – more than three times the legal limit.
Magistrates were also told Bloxham used threatening and abusive behaviour and went on to assault a police officer by headbutting him.
He pleaded guilty to driving without insurance, drink driving, driving whilst disqualified, using threatening behaviour, assaulting an emergency worker, and driving without a test certificate.
Because of the seriousness of the offences, magistrates said custody was the only option. He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison and banned from driving for 40 months. His driving record was endorsed and he was ordered to pay £85 in costs.
The court was also told that while on bail, Bloxham was arrested again following a separate incident in Milford Haven on Saturday, September 27. He has been charged with arson with intent to endanger life, and the case has been sent to Swansea Crown Court.
Bloxham was remanded in custody. He is due to appear for a plea and trial preparation hearing on Friday, October 31.
Crime
Two men bailed after Fleming Crescent burglary report
TWO men have been arrested following a reported burglary at a property in Haverfordwest.
Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that officers were called after a residential burglary was reported at Fleming Crescent on Sunday (Apr 26).
The incident is understood to have taken place sometime between 8:35pm and 11:55pm.
Residents reported seeing police tape and several police vehicles in the area at around 9:49pm.
A police spokesperson confirmed that two men, aged 25 and 28, both from Pembrokeshire, were arrested on suspicion of burglary.
Both men have since been released on bail.
Crime
Pembrokeshire hairdresser avoids prison after pub assault
WHEN a Fishguard mobile hairdresser was branded a chav in her local pub, she took umbrage by throwing a glass of gin at the woman who had spoken the words.
But this week Haverfordwest magistrates heard that when the glass shattered into the victim’s face, the woman sustained lacerations to her neck and chin.
Appearing before the Bench was 43-year-old Donna Thomas of White Lodge, Dyffryn, Goodwick, who pleaded guilty to assaulting Hannah Llewhelin, causing her actual bodily harm.
The court was told that Thomas arrived at The Royal Oak pub in Fishguard, at around 8pm on October 18, accompanied by her husband. Approximately an hour later, Hannah Llewhelin arrived.
“The defendant began speaking to the victim and an argument broke out,” said Crown Prosecutor Dennis Davies.
“The defendant hit the victim to her face with a glass which smashed against her face, neck and skin, causing lacerations.”
Photographs of the lacerations were shown to the Bench.
But the probation service stressed that the assault had been prompted by a derogatory remark made to the defendant by Hannah Llewhelin.
“The defendant had had two drinks earlier that evening, she drank two more at the pub prior to the incident, and was tipsy but was aware of what was happening around her,” commented the probation officer.
“She went over to the table where the victim was sitting, her husband introduced her to the victim who he’d known since his school days, and they began discussing land on friendly terms. But the victim then laughed at the defendant’s job, which is a self-employed mobile hairdresser, and called her a chav.
“Without thinking, Donna Thomas went to throw the drink over the victim’s face but she knocked the glass. She didn’t intend to hurt her physically, but just wanted to throw the drink.”
Thomas was sentenced to 18 weeks in custody suspended for 18 months. During this time she must carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work. She was ordered to pay £750 compensation to Hannah Llewhelin, a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.
Crime
Farm worker overturns Mercedes when over drink-drive limit
A Pembrokeshire farm worker has lost his licence after overturning his Mercedes when he was over the drink-drive limit.
This week Haverfordwest magistrates were told that at around 3.40pm on January 10, police received reports that a black Mercedes had been involved in a single vehicle road collision on the A487 at Roch.
When officers arrived, they discovered the overturned Mercedes with its driver, Richard James, 45, trapped in the driving seat.
At around 5 pm James was arrested and transported to Withybush hospital where blood samples were carried out. These gave a reading of 112 mcg of alcohol, the legal limit being 80.
James, of Bryn Seion, Solva, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and was represented in court by solicitor Jess Hill who informed magistrates that the defendant had collected items for work on the afternoon in question.
“He’d consumed alcohol the night before and had also taken some prescribed medication,” she said. “He believed he would be safe to drive the following day, but obviously this wasn’t the case.”
Jess Hill added that James is expecting to lose his employment as a farm worker, as the mandatory driving ban will prevent him from driving the vehicles involved with his work.
James was disqualified from driving for 14 months and ordered to pay a £346 fine, a £138 court surcharge and £85 costs.
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