News
Still banned after changing name
AFTER finding out his real name from his birth certificate, a Pembroke Dock man tried his luck and applied for a new driving license under his original name even though he was banned from driving.
Shaun Coleman, aged 26, of Coronation School, was previously known as Brown but applied for the license when he found out his name was Coleman.
Coleman appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (Jan 20) to learn his sentence after he pleaded guilty to a charge of obtaining a driving license whilst disqualified and also being drunk and disorderly in a public place.
Coleman had been on a night out in Wrexham in November but, realising he had nowhere to sleep, he called the police reporting an incident and when they came he asked to be arrested so that he could have a place to sleep.
The court also heard how Coleman had no intentions of driving and that he simply used the provisional license for ID purposes.
Prosecuting, Nick Newton told the court: “On November 27, at around 11:30pm this man has rung the police to report an alleged burglary and assault. However, when the police arrived he shouted: ‘Come on then, arrest me’. It turns out that he had called the police for no other reason than to be arrested. He was asked to move on but he continued to be abusive and he was arrested and taken to the police station in Wrexham. They found a bank card in the name of Shaun Brown but they also found a provisional license under the name of Coleman. Under the name of Brown he was disqualified from driving for three years and he was arrested on suspicion of obtaining a license whilst disqualified. He accepted that he was drunk and that he got himself arrested in order to have a bed for the night. He also accepted he has previous convictions under the name of Brown and he accepts the latest charges. He wasn’t driving at the time and he simply used the license for ID.”
Defending, Mark Layton added: “He does have previous convictions under the name of Brown but when he saw his birth certificate he realised his name was Coleman and he took that as the name he would like to be known as. Driving was not in his contemplation. He didn’t think he had done anything wrong in applying for the license. It was simply to legitimise his birth name and it was not intended for driving purposes. This is a serious offence but it is not aggravated by excessive culpability.”
Magistrates fined Coleman £40 for both offences. He was also ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.
News
Man remanded in custody following alleged assault in town centre
A PEMBROKE man has been remanded in custody following an alleged assault against a woman in Pembroke town centre last Thursday.
Morgan Ralph, 38, is accused of assaulting a female, occasioning her actual bodily harm during the alleged altercation on March 14.
Ralph, who appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday morning via a video link from Swansea Prison, pleaded not guilty to the offence.
His solicitor Tom Lloyd, informed magistrates that Ralph was acting in self defence during the alleged incident.
The matter was adjourned to May 23 when Ralph, of St Oswalds, Main Street, Pembroke, will be tried before Haverfordwest magistrates.
He was remanded in custody.
News
Retaining wall collapse in Haverfordwest crushes van
A RETAINING wall at Spring Gardens Lane, behind the site of the former Pembroke House Hotel in Haverfordwest, has collapsed following a period of heavy rainfall, causing damage to vehicles parked in the vicinity.
The incident has left two vans damaged, one severely.
The collapse of the wall sent debris sprawling across the car park, illustrating the force of the collapse and the substantial volume of water contributing to the structural failure.
Witnesses described hearing a loud rumbling noise before discovering the aftermath of the collapse.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.
The collapse serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by heavy rainfall and the importance of maintaining and monitoring ageing infrastructure.
Business
People in Wales are worried about running out of money in retirement
FEAR of running out of money in retirement is rising among those in Wales with more than half (55%) concerned their savings will not last them through retirement, new research from Investec Wealth & Investment (UK) shows (please see the attached press release).
In general, women are more worried about running out of money compared to men. More than half (54%) of women surveyed are concerned about how long their money will last in retirement, compared to only 44% of men. Around 46% of men who are not worried about running out of money in retirement say it is because they have a final salary pension scheme – compared to just 38% of women who have this.
The study by Investec Wealth & Investment (UK), part of Rathbones Group, among people with stock market investments including pensions, paints a bleak picture – around 55% of those living in Wales are concerned they do not have enough money for retirement. This is similar to the UK average of 56%.
Women are more worried than men that they do not have enough money for retirement. Almost two thirds (61%) of women surveyed are concerned, with 18% of these very concerned they do not have enough money for retirement. This compares to just over half (53%) of men surveyed, with 14% of these very concerned they do not have enough money for retirement.
The Investec Wealth & Investment (UK) study shows that those living in Wales who have yet to retire are realistic about what will happen to their incomes in retirement – 64% expect their monthly incomes to drop on retirement and 36% did not know.
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