Crime

Job loss threat for convicted Pembrokeshire drug-driver

Published

1 week ago

May 6, 2026

A ROUTINE police check has resulted in a drug-driving conviction for Haverfordwest resident Nima Hajiaghaee after he was found with Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system.

This week Haverfordwest magistrates were told that Hajiaghaee, 36, was stopped at around 10.30 am on January 19 as he drove his Peugeot van along Dredgemans Hill heading towards Johnston A roadside breath test proved positive for cannabis while further samples gave a reading of 5.3, the legal limit being 2.

Hajiaghaee pleaded guilty to the charge and chose to legally represent himself before District Judge Mark Layton.

Addressing the judge, the defendant accepted full responsibility for his actions but stressed that a mandatory driving ban is likely to have a considerable impact on his employment with a specialist installation company.

“My job involves improving living conditions for elderly and vulnerable people and means I regularly have to travel across the UK,” he said. “This is extremely specialist work and depends on my ability to drive.

“I’m now worried about the spiraling financial consequences as a result of a disqualification.

“I’ve reflected seriously on the incident and realise the importance of road safety. It’s had a significant impact on me and I can assure the court I will not find myself in this situation again.”

Hajiaghaee, of Cleddau Avenue, Haverfordwest, was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was fined £600 and ordered to pay a £240 court surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Man used vulnerable victim’s bank card at Milford Haven Tesco

Published

7 hours ago

May 16, 2026

Court Reporter

A 41-YEAR-OLD man has been given a suspended prison sentence after using a vulnerable man’s bank card at Tesco Extra in Milford Haven.

Mark Anthony Hambrook, of Keeston, admitted fraud by false representation when he appeared before magistrates.

The court heard that Hambrook dishonestly used the card on April 29, 2025, spending £220.

Magistrates said the offence crossed the custody threshold because it involved a breach of trust, a vulnerable victim, and was committed while Hambrook was on post-sentence supervision.

He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.

Hambrook was also ordered to pay £220 compensation, together with a £154 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Cilgerran man denies breaching court ban on keeping animals

Published

8 hours ago

May 16, 2026

Court Reporter

39-year-old accused of keeping a dog despite court-imposed disqualification order dating back to 2019

A CILGERRAN man has denied breaching a court-imposed ban on keeping animals.

Max Huntley, 39, of Castell Corwg, Cilgerran, appeared before Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 14) for a further case management hearing.

He is accused of breaching a disqualification order imposed under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

The court register states that Huntley was disqualified following conviction and sentence at Swansea Crown Court on March 14, 2019, for an offence under section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act.

The allegation now before the court is that, on or about August 10, 2025, at Castell Corwg, Cilgerran, he breached that disqualification by having custody of a dog.

Huntley has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The case was adjourned to allow the prosecution to confirm details relating to the defendant and how a solicitor could contact him.

He was remanded on unconditional bail and must attend the next hearing at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, May 27, at 10:00am.

The hearing is listed for further case management and is expected to last around 20 minutes.