Crime

Driver banned after cocaine and metabolite found in system on A477

Published

3 months ago

February 11, 2026

Motorist told court he had been “in a bad state” and is now seeking help

A 51-YEAR-OLD motorist has been disqualified from driving after being caught with both cocaine and its metabolite in his system while travelling along the A477.

Magistrates sitting at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that Paul Andrew was stopped by police on the afternoon of November 2 as he drove a silver Ford Transit near Kilgetty.

Checks showed the vehicle was uninsured. Further blood analysis revealed Andrew had 240 micrograms of benzoylecgonine in his system, as well as 13 micrograms of cocaine. The legal limits are 50 and 10 respectively.

Andrew, of Bramble Cottage, Stepaside, pleaded guilty to both drug-driving offences when he appeared before the court. He chose to represent himself.

In mitigation, he told magistrates he had been struggling with his circumstances at the time.

“I’d been living in a van and was in a bad state,” he said. “So in many ways this has helped me to sort myself out. I’ve now joined a church in Tenby and have started working with the Dyfed Drugs and Alcohol Service, so things are starting to look a lot better.”

Andrew was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.

Crime

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

Published

20 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

21 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.