Crime

Chef admits driving after taking cannabis

Published

2 years ago

January 10, 2024

A MOTORIST who uses cannabis to self-medicate as a result of his ADHD has appeared before magistrates for sentence after being caught driving over the legal drug-drive limit.

Daniel Sutton, 23, was stopped by police officers on August 3 as he drove his Volkswagen Scirocco along the B4328 at Whitland.

“He was stopped as a result of his excessive speeds,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

A roadside drugs swipe proved positive and Sutton, of Clos Griffith Jones, St Clears, was taken to the police custody suite where further blood tests were carried out. These confirmed that he had 3.6mcg of Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol in his blood; the specified legal limit is 2.

Sutton pleaded guilty to a charge of driving over the specified controlled drug limit and was legally represented in court by Mr Tom Lloyd.

The solicitor explained that the mandatory disqualification will have grave repercussions on Sutton who is employed as a chef.

“My client is a trained chef and will now find it impossible to seek work which he can walk to or get to on public transport from his home in St Clears,” he said.

“The disqualification is going to affect him dramatically.”

Mr Lloyd went on to say that Sutton was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of nine, for which he has been receiving regular treatment. But when he turned 16, Sutton found himself waiting for transferral to the adult register.“

He’s still waiting for treatment and as a result, he very foolishly started self medicating with cannabis,” said Tom Lloyd.

Imposing sentence, presiding magistrate Ms Mary Smith increased Sutton’s fine as a result of the excessive speeds which were reported by the officers following his arrest.

He was fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 costs and an £80 court surcharge. He was disqualified from driving for three years.

Crime

Milford Haven man admits assault and harassment charges

Published

4 days ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN has admitted assaulting a family member and harassing another relative following incidents in the town last year.

Wayne Whatling, 39, of Howarth Close, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Whatling changed his pleas to guilty to one charge of assault by beating and one charge of harassment without violence.

The assault charge relates to an incident in Milford Haven on September 13, 2025, when Whatling assaulted Ben Whatling by beating him.

He also admitted pursuing a course of conduct amounting to harassment against Carol Whatling between September 1 and September 13, 2025.

The court heard the harassment allegation involved repeatedly asking Carol Whatling for money, with the complainant said to have feared repercussions if she did not provide it.

Magistrates adjourned the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Whatling was remanded on conditional bail and ordered not to contact Carol or Ben Whatling directly or indirectly.

He is due to be sentenced at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (June 9).

Crime

Milford Haven man admits affray after alleged pub incident

Published

4 days ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN man has admitted affray following an incident at a town centre pub.

Stephen Collier, 38, of Vaynor Road, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Collier has pleaded guilty to affray, relating to an incident at Nos Da, Victoria Road, Milford Haven, on December 3, 2025.

The charge states that he used unlawful violence towards John Dean Hilton and that his conduct was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for their personal safety.

Collier also faces a separate charge of burglary dwelling with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm. It is alleged that, on the same date, he entered a flat at Nos Da as a trespasser and inflicted grievous bodily harm on Mr Hilton. He denies that charge.

The court also dealt with a breach of bail allegation after Collier was arrested on May 20 for allegedly breaching a curfew condition. He admitted the breach.

Magistrates re-admitted him to conditional bail.

His bail conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 9:00pm and 6:00am, residence at his Vaynor Road address, and exclusions from Mount Estate, Milford Haven town centre, and Nos Da.

He must also not contact prosecution witnesses, including Molly Martin, Jack Martin, Lily Rose Martin and John Hilton.

Collier is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, June 5, for sentence.

A spokesperson for Nos Da said the incident was connected with rooms upstairs at the Victoria Road premises, and did not take place in the bar itself, in the licensed area.