Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

Crime

Mechanic banned after drink-drive stop on A487

Published

on

Father told magistrates it was the “biggest mistake of his life” after failing to find a taxi home from Haverfordwest

A PEMBROKESHIRE mechanic has been banned from the roads after making what his solicitor described as “the biggest mistake of his life”.

Joe Dunning, 36, drove from Haverfordwest to Broad Haven after drinking alcohol in the town centre on Friday, December 20, Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard.

The court was told Dunning had been unable to find a taxi and decided to drive home.

As he travelled along St David’s Road on the A487 he was followed by police officers, who stopped the Vauxhall Vivaro after seeing it deviate slightly from its lane.

When spoken to by officers, Dunning admitted having two alcoholic drinks around half an hour before getting behind the wheel. A breath test later carried out at the police station showed 48 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Dunning pleaded guilty to drink driving.

“This was the biggest mistake he’s ever made in his life,” his solicitor, Tom Lloyd, told magistrates.

“He was out in town but had information to suggest there was someone around who he didn’t want to see, so he decided to remove himself from the area. He failed to get a taxi so he made the decision to drive back from Haverfordwest to Broad Haven.”

Mr Lloyd said a number of character references had been provided to the court, including one from Dunning’s employer describing him as “an invaluable member of the team”.

“The defendant is a reliable, dependable, and hard-working father, and as a result of this mistake, his actions are going to have repercussions on a lot of people,” he added.

Magistrates disqualified Dunning from driving for 12 months. He was fined £500 and ordered to pay a £200 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Convicted sex offender back in court after order breach

Published

on

Police found unauthorised Telegram use and a deleted account on electronic device, magistrates told

A CONVICTED sex offender has been brought back before the courts after breaching a sexual harm prevention order for the second time.

John Walters, 61, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday after failing to notify police that new software had been installed on an electronic device.

The court heard that when officers visited Walters, of Townmoor, Narberth, they discovered the account had been deleted.

A sexual harm prevention order was imposed on Walters in 2022 after he was convicted of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

The order prevented him from holding any social media account unless it had been approved by Dyfed-Powys Police. It also banned him from deleting or hiding any internet history.

In December 2025, police were alerted to Walters using the Telegram messaging app between December 5 and 7, despite it not being authorised.

“This was a deliberate breach,” said Crown Prosecutor Charlotte Thomas.

Walters pleaded guilty to the breach. Magistrates adjourned sentencing to allow an all-options probation report to be prepared.

He was released on unconditional bail.

Continue Reading

Crime

Drug dealer ordered to pay after festival bust and e-bike crash

Published

on

A MILFORD HAVEN drug dealer who thought he could cash in by supplying partygoers at a music festival has been ordered to hand over thousands of pounds under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Justin Cadwell, 29, of Picton Close, was jailed for five years after police stopped a vehicle on the A31 near Winchester on Thursday (Aug 8) 2024, acting on intelligence linked to drug dealing.

Cadwell was a passenger in the car, which was being driven by his sister. She was later cleared of involvement after police examined her phone.

Officers found a haul of drugs and other items believed to be destined for a Hampshire festival, including 44.363g of cannabis, nitrous oxide canisters valued at £2,225, 15.11g of ketamine, 12.4g of MDMA, and smaller quantities of cannabis.

When Cadwell’s home was later searched, police found a locked garden shed that had been converted into a drug store.

Inside, officers seized 53.25g of cannabis, 450g of cannabis resin, 29.8g of cocaine, cutting agents and empty snap bags. They also recovered £25,307.85 in cash hidden in the shed and in Cadwell’s bedroom.

Cadwell claimed the money came from window cleaning work and gifts from his father, and insisted the drugs were for personal use.

E-bike crash

The case took another turn months later when emergency services were called to an e-bike crash at Hakin Point, Milford Haven, at around 7:00pm on Friday (Mar 1).

The bike had no lights and the passenger was not wearing a helmet. Cadwell, who was riding the bike, was knocked unconscious in the collision.

As paramedics cut away his jacket to treat him, they found 10.21g of cocaine and 60g of cannabis in his clothing, along with £588.03 in cash. Cadwell refused to provide a drugs specimen when required and again claimed the substances were for personal use.

Guilty pleas

At Swansea Crown Court in July, Cadwell pleaded guilty to two offences of possession with intent to supply cocaine, three offences of possession with intent to supply cannabis, possession with intent to supply nitrous oxide and cannabis resin, being concerned in the supply of cannabis, possession of criminal property, and failing to provide a specimen.

Prosecutor Georgia Donohue told the court it was agreed Cadwell had benefited by £14,719.79 from drug dealing, with £6,569 in available assets.

Judge Geraint Walters made a confiscation order for £6,569, meaning Cadwell must pay that sum back or face further consequences.

Continue Reading

Crime

Man jailed after samurai sword brandished in Pembroke Dock street brawl

Published

on

15-month sentence after “ugly” disturbance left members of the public fearing for their safety

MICHEL VALMONT has been jailed for 15 months after brandishing a samurai sword during a violent disturbance in Pembroke Dock which left members of the public fearing for their safety.

Swansea Crown Court heard the incident unfolded on Pembroke Street on Saturday (June 15, 2024), prompting multiple calls to police from alarmed witnesses.

Prosecutor Craig Jones told the court officers were contacted as the street fight developed, with members of the public reporting several men involved in violence in the street.

The court heard that while two men were already engaged in a brawl, Valmont emerged from a nearby property dressed in black and carrying the sword. He was then seen chasing the men while wielding the weapon, heightening concern about what he intended to do.

Police arrived to find Stephen Charge and Trevor Herridge still fighting. They were separated and arrested at the scene.

A search of the area later uncovered a samurai sword and a black hooded top in a nearby garden. Valmont was subsequently identified and arrested.

Valmont, 48, of Water Street, Pembroke Dock, and Charge, 52, of Pembroke Street, Pembroke Dock, had both previously pleaded guilty to affray. Valmont also admitted possession of an offensive weapon.

The court heard Valmont has 74 previous convictions for 203 offences, including violence, weapons offences, dishonesty and public disorder. Charge’s record includes assault occasioning actual bodily harm, battery, criminal damage and dishonesty offences.

Defending Valmont, Jon Tarrant said his client had not been involved at the outset but made what he described as a “ridiculous and stupid” decision to intervene after realising a friend was caught up in the incident.

He told the court Valmont accepted a prison sentence was inevitable, adding that “walking around the centre of Pembroke Dock with a samurai sword is not going to result in any other outcome”.

The court was told Valmont had used heroin for around 30 years but was now testing clean.

Emily Bennett, representing Charge, said her client accepted his actions went beyond lawful self-defence and was extremely remorseful.

She told the court Charge began using drugs at 13 and later became addicted to heroin, but was now abstinent. He has four children, whom he sees regularly.

Passing sentence, Judge Paul Thomas KC described the incident as an “ugly brawl” and said the scenes were “more reminiscent of the Wild West of America in the 19th Century than West Wales in the 21st”.

While the cause of the disturbance was unclear, the judge said Valmont had escalated matters by introducing a “fearsome” weapon.

After receiving a one-quarter reduction for his guilty plea, Valmont was sentenced to 15 months in prison and will serve up to half the term in custody before being released on licence.

Charge received an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with a 20% reduction for his guilty plea. He was ordered to complete a rehabilitation requirement and fined £400 for breaching a suspended sentence.

The judge told him he had avoided immediate custody “by the skin of your teeth” and warned he was now “drinking in the last chance saloon”.

The court heard Herridge, 47, who had been charged with affray in connection with the incident, has since died.

(Pic: CPS Cymru)

Continue Reading

News38 minutes ago

MP presses Labour over Pembrokeshire ‘not-spots’ as Tenby misses on latest upgrades

MID and South Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell has pressed the UK Government for action on poor mobile connectivity in Pembrokeshire...

Business3 hours ago

Milford Haven’s offshore future in focus as floating wind project wins backing

Erebus scheme off Pembrokeshire coast backed in UK auction as Irish Sea port resilience plan published PEMBROKESHIRE’S role in the...

News3 hours ago

Eluned Morgan: Wales ‘damn right’ to demand more rail cash from UK Government

FIRST MINISTER PUSHED ON “PALTRY” FUNDING AND HS2 FALL-OUT IN SENEDD EXCHANGE WALES’ First Minister Eluned Morgan has insisted it...

Crime22 hours ago

Man jailed after samurai sword brandished in Pembroke Dock street brawl

15-month sentence after “ugly” disturbance left members of the public fearing for their safety MICHEL VALMONT has been jailed for...

Education2 days ago

Pembrokeshire Learning Centre placed in special measures following Estyn inspection

PEMBROKESHIRE LEARNING CENTRE has been placed in special measures after inspectors raised serious concerns about standards and leadership at the...

Crime2 days ago

Father jailed for 35 years after baby hurled at television

Court hears infant suffered catastrophic, life-changing injuries after violent attack in Ceredigion home A COURT has heard how a two-month-old...

News2 days ago

Former Tory chancellor Zahawi defects to Reform UK

NADHIM ZAHAWI has defected from the Conservative Party to Reform UK, becoming Nigel Farage’s highest-profile political recruit to date and...

News2 days ago

Ancient New Year celebrations still ring true in hidden corner of Pembrokeshire

WITH New Year celebrations safely packed away with the tinsels and baubles for another 12 months, a quiet corner of...

News5 days ago

Search of River Teifi continues as police scale back multi-agency response

Family kept informed as officers urge public to avoid unsafe independent searches A POLICE search of the River Teifi in Cardigan will continue over...

Crime5 days ago

Man pleads guilty after £150k drugs haul found in Pembroke traffic stop

Routine police check led to discovery of cocaine and cannabis in car boot A MAN has pleaded guilty after a...

Popular This Week