Crime
Driver over drug limit after taking cocaine to ease leg pain
Blood tests showed level nearly five times the legal threshold
A MOTORIST who admitted taking cocaine to try to ease ongoing leg pain has been banned from driving after being caught over the drug-drive limit in Pembrokeshire.
Richard Smith, aged 41, was stopped by police on the night of October 6 while driving his Skoda Enyaq along Pope Hill in Johnston.
Officers carried out a roadside drugs test which proved positive. Smith was arrested and taken to the police station, where blood analysis later revealed 236 micrograms of benzoylecgonine – a cocaine metabolite – in his system. The legal limit is 50.
Smith pleaded guilty to drug-driving when he appeared before magistrates at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.
Defence solicitor Fenn Richards said her client had travelled to Milford Haven to support a family member.
“His nephew had been having a hard time with depression, so he came down to spend some time with him,” she said.
“But the defendant had recently suffered a car accident and had run out of painkillers while he was in the area. He turned to cocaine to help relieve his pain.”
The court heard Smith had taken the drug around five days before driving and had not realised it could remain detectable in his system for that length of time.
Magistrates disqualified Smith, of Walnut Way, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, from driving for 14 months.
He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.
Crime
Begelly man remanded over alleged May Day assault
A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been remanded in custody following an alleged May Day assault against a woman in Begelly.
Tomas Baker, 34, of Ty Dee, New Road, Begelly, is accused of assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, at an undisclosed location in Begelly on May 1.
Baker appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week by video link from Swansea Prison.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
His trial will take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on June 22.
Crime
Waterston man denies child rape and sexual assault charges
A WATERSTON man has appeared before magistrates charged with 13 sexual offences against children, including three allegations of raping a girl under the age of 13.
Chaisee Price, 25, of Biggins Hill, Waterston, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.
He faces three charges of raping a girl under 13, eight charges of sexually assaulting girls aged between five and eight, and two charges of intentionally inciting girls under 13 to engage in sexual activity.
The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2014 and 2019.
Price denied all charges.
Because of the seriousness of the allegations, magistrates declined jurisdiction and the case will now proceed to Swansea Crown Court on July 10.
Price was released on conditional bail.
The conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 6:00pm and 6:00am, no contact with the prosecution witness, no unsupervised contact with children under 18, and a requirement to surrender his passport to police.
Crime
Haverfordwest pair accused of £80,000 rogue trading frauds
TWO men from a Haverfordwest traveller family have been described in court as “rogue traders” following a series of alleged frauds totalling almost £80,000.
Billy Alfred Gary Lovell, 38, and Timothy Dean Lovell, 36, both of Under the Hills, Merlins Bridge, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.
They are accused of offences linked to ground clearance and gardening work in Mathry, Sardis and two addresses in Carmarthenshire.
Prosecuting on behalf of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Trading Standards Department, barrister Harry Dickens told the court: “These men have to be described as rogue traders.”
Billy Lovell faces 16 charges, including fraud by false representation, fraud by failing to disclose information, and unfair commercial practices.
The most serious allegation relates to Diana and Martin Hearnshaw, of Sardis. It is alleged that between January 30, 2022, and January 16, 2025, Billy Lovell dishonestly represented that he would complete clearance and gardening works worth £71,631, but failed to carry out work to that value.
He is also accused of offences involving Richard Gardner, of Penygroes, Carmarthenshire, Irene Williams, of Mathry, and Daniel Watts, of Ty Croes, Carmarthenshire.
Timothy Lovell faces ten charges arising from alleged incidents involving Richard Gardner and Irene Williams.
The allegations include claims that the defendants failed to provide accurate invoices, receipts, written contractual terms, cancellation rights and refund information. Some charges also allege that aggressive commercial practices were used, including harassment, coercion or undue influence.
No pleas were recorded. Because of the seriousness of the allegations, District Judge Mark Layton declined jurisdiction.
The case will now proceed to Swansea Crown Court on June 12.
Both defendants were granted conditional bail. They must not contact prosecution witnesses directly or indirectly, must live and sleep each night at their respective addresses in Under the Hills, Merlins Bridge, and must not undertake any gardening or landscaping work.
The bail conditions were imposed to prevent interference with witnesses and further offending.
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