Crime

Four figure fine for illegal Pembrokeshire vape trader

Published

2 years ago

February 8, 2024

A COURT has heard how a Pembrokeshire vape trader ‘has lost trust in his suppliers’ after receiving a batch of e-cigarettes that contained nearly three times the legal nicotine limit.

A council trading standard officer visited Vapes Allsorts in Pembroke, on the morning of June 14, 2023, following reports that the business had been selling non-compliant vapes.

He requested an Elux Firerose Ex4500 vape and was served by Terence Miller who was responsible for running and managing the store which is situated in Main Street. But upon leaving the store, the officer discovered the vape fell foul of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations, 2016.

The vape was found to contain:

Nearly three times the legal nicotine concentration;
Over three times the legal e-liquid permitted in such a vape and
Over 3.5 times the legal tank capacity.

This week solicitor Jill Davies, prosecuting on behalf of Pembrokeshire County Council, informed Haverfordwest magistrates that immediately after the test purchase, two more local authority officers visited Vapes Allsorts.

“They informed Terence Miller that the purchase had taken place, and he initially denied selling it, claiming it hadn’t come from there.”

Ms Davies went on to say that 39 identical vapes were subsequently removed from his shop by local authority officers and were found to carry the exact illegal quantities of e-liquid, nicotine and tank capacities.

“The defendant now accepts that he made an error of judgement and has told us that he informed his supplier the following day that his invoice was incorrect, however copies of this aren’t available,” she said.

Miller, of Main Street, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to producing or supplying an electronic cigarette that did not comply with product requirements; producing or supplying an electronic cigarette that failed to include contact details of the producer; producing or supplying an electronic cigarette that failed to include a leaflet with information concerning its nicotine content and of engaging in unfair commercial practice.

Choosing to represent himself before magistrates, Miller told the court that his decision to stock the Elux vape was the result of his successful 12-year career in the vape industry.

“Elux is a quality product,” he said.

“I requested 20 units of five different flavours and they arrived factory sealed in plastic. The box was unpacked and the stock was either shelved for sale or stored for a later date. I chose three flavours for my personal use, and I’m 100 percent positive that those had no nicotine in them as the white space at the bottom read ‘zero nicotine’.

“I replenished the stock on Monday morning, which included the remaining 50 vapes. But unbeknown to me, they were illicit.

“I pride myself on selling quality vaping products and I put a lot of trust in my suppliers. But in this instance, it’s tarnished what was a good, professional relationship.

“I’ve worked too hard for too many years to throw it all away by selling products that are outside the regulations. It’s just not in me to do that, but all I can do is apologise profusely. This has been a hard and bitter pill to swallow.”

After considering his mitigation, magistrates ordered Terence MIller to pay £1,000 costs to Pembrokeshire County Council. He was fined £918 and ordered to pay a £367.20 court surcharge. A forfeiture and destruction order was imposed on the 40 illegal vapes which were removed from Vapes Allsorts by Pembrokeshire County Council during their investigation.

Crime

Dock woman given mental health treatment order after supermarket thefts

Published

2 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKE DOCK woman has been placed on a mental health treatment requirement after repeatedly stealing meat, cheese and other grocery items from local supermarkets.

Lisa Stewart, 45, admitted three theft offences when she appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

The first offence took place on March 11, when Stewart stole Vanish, Lenor and three packs of Persil capsules from Home Bargains in Pembroke Dock, with a total value of £58.41.

The following month, she stole four small beef joints, four steaks and three blocks of cheese from Asda in Pembroke Dock, worth £55.68.

Seven days later, she stole four legs of lamb from Farmfoods in Pembroke Dock, valued at £99.96.

Stewart, of Truscott House, London Road, Pembroke Dock, also pleaded guilty to failing to surrender to police bail on or around May 26.

She was represented in court by solicitor Alaw Harries, who told magistrates the thefts involved items of relatively low value and were not the result of “sophisticated offending”.

“The defendant has had an exceptionally difficult time, as last year she lost her partner to cancer and has struggled profoundly to process that grief,” said Ms Harries.

“Instead, she has attempted to cope by taking more of her prescribed medication than she should. And this is what has led her to be here today.”

Ms Harries said Stewart is now motivated to address her issues.

Magistrates sentenced Stewart to an 18-month community order. She must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, a 12-month mental health treatment requirement and a 12-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

The order will include monthly reviews in court.

Stewart must also pay £214.05 compensation to the supermarkets, together with a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Grandmother banned after cocaine drug-drive offence

Published

2 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A GRANDMOTHER has been banned from the roads after being caught behind the wheel with 800 mcg of a cocaine metabolite in her system.

Eleri Phillips, 57, was stopped by police in the early hours of December 18 as she drove her Audi Q5 along Derwent Avenue, Steynton.

A roadside drugs swipe proved positive, and further blood tests carried out at the police station showed she had 45 mcg of cocaine in her system and 800 mcg of benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite.

The legal limits are 10 mcg and 50 mcg respectively.

Phillips, of Brook Close, Steynton, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to two drug-driving charges when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates. She was legally represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher.

“She is absolutely ashamed of what has happened,” Mr Kelleher told the court.

“She had been out with friends that evening and someone offered her cocaine. Very foolishly, she took it.

“As a result, she is now going to be disqualified from driving, which is going to cause problems not only for her but for her family, as she regularly helps look after her grandchildren with general pick-ups from school.”

Phillips was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £120. She must also pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

Crime

Milford Haven builder banned for second drug-driving offence

Published

2 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Court hears cannabis reading was five times the legal limit

A SELF-EMPLOYED builder has been banned from the road after committing his second drug-driving offence in ten years.

Robert Duncan, 44, was stopped by police at around 6:00pm on January 31 as he drove a Ford Focus along Steynton Road, Milford Haven.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard this week that officers had been observing the vehicle before requesting it to stop.

Duncan provided a positive roadside drugs wipe, and later blood tests showed he had 10mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2mcg.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told magistrates that this was Duncan’s second drug-driving offence within ten years.

Duncan, of Meyler Crescent, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to drug-driving.

He was represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher, who said Duncan had believed the drug would have left his system by the time he got behind the wheel.

“He believed the drug would have been out of his system when he was driving, but it can take a considerable length of time to go,” said Mr Kelleher.

“In fact, this is the drug that takes the longest amount of time.”

Mr Kelleher said Duncan worked as a self-employed builder, but was currently unable to work large amounts of time because of family commitments.

Magistrates disqualified Duncan from driving for three years. He was also fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £32 surcharge.