Crime

Taking and crashing car without owner’s consent admitted in 999 call

Published

2 years ago

February 13, 2024

A COURT has heard how a 20-year-old man dialled 999 to inform officers he’d driven off in a car without the owner’s consent and crashed it, despite being over the drink-drive limit.

Ryan Guy made the rash decision to take the Vauxhall on January 28, which belonged to his girlfriend’s sister. He then proceeded to drive it along Bentlass Terrace in Pennar, Pembroke Dock.

“A phone call was then made to the police by the defendant himself, saying he’d taken the vehicle, he’d been drinking, and he’d crashed the car,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan when Guy appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“He made a full admission.”

Ms Vaughan added that the damage amounted to a slight dent on the front nearside of the car.

Subsequent intoximeter tests carried out by the officers revealed that Guy had been driving with 79 ml of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35.

Guy, of Munro Court, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle above the legal drink-drive limit; the aggravated taking of a vehicle without the owner’s consent; using a vehicle on a public road without third party insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

He was legally represented by Ms Katy Hanson.

“These are slightly unusual circumstances,” she said. “My client helped the police, he was extremely honest with them and immediately recognised that this was a very foolish action. He was immediately remorseful.”

Ms Hanson said that the car was still drivable following the crash, and the defendant had offered to pay for the full cost of repair.

“My client has never been in trouble before and it’s quite rare to have someone before the court who’s phoned the police and told them everything that happened,” she said.

This was endorsed by probation officer Julie Norman.

“He took the car with the intention of harming himself,” she said. “But after driving a short distance, he crashed into a wall and was then arrested.”

After considering the probation report, magistrates sentenced Guy to a 12-month probation order which includes ten rehabilitation requirement days and a referral to the Dyfed Drugs and Alcohol Service. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £114 surcharge and £85 costs. He was disqualified from driving for 18 months and his licence endorsed.

Crime

Milford Haven man admits assault and harassment charges

Published

3 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

3 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.