Crime

Pembrokeshire carpenter jailed for stealing vehicles and handling stolen goods

Published

2 years ago

October 19, 2024

A PEMBROKESHIRE carpenter has received a jail sentence after pleading guilty to receiving stolen goods and stealing vehicles on two separate occasions.

This week a judge was told that Daniel Hudson, 30, committed the catalogue of crime while he was heavily dependent on Class A drugs, including heroin and crack cocaine.

Appearing at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday, Hudson admitted the aggravated taking of a vehicle from Holyand Road, Pembroke; using that same vehicle on a road without third party insurance; going equipped for theft; stealing another motor vehicle in Bristol; receiving stolen goods; driving above the specified drug-drive limit; driving whilst disqualified on two separate occasions and failing to surrender to bail.

Crown Prosecutor Nia James said that on August 28, 2022, police received a call saying that a delivery van had been stolen in Bristol.

“Its driver had been delivering a package, but when he went back to his vehicle, it had gone,” she said.

“It was later picked up on an ANPR camera and there were two males seen inside the vehicle.”

Then the vehicle was stopped by police, Hudson jumped out of the driver’s seat and ran off into a large open space.

Officers detained him, and Hudson immediately admitted that he had been the driver.

“He said he’d just seen the keys in the van so thought he’d have a go at it,” stated the Crown.

“He also admitted that he’d taken crack heroin that same day.”

Subsequent drugs tests showed Hudson had 200 mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50.

Meanwhile on July 22, 2022 a Mr William Greeves had ridden his Genesis Equilibrium bike, valued at £1,800, to a church in Bristol where he was instructing a class.

“But when he returned to the bike, he found that it had gone,” continued Nia James.

“He made enquiries on social media and arranged to meet a man, who turned out to be the defendant, to buy the bike. Mr Greeves alerted police about the situation and the defendant was arrested.”.

Ms James said that Hudson informed the officers that his intention was to sell the bike ‘to make some money’.

On September 25, 2024, the owner of a Renault Kangoo that had been parked outside a property in Holyland Road, Pembroke, received a call to say that his van was in the middle of the road and both of its airbags had been deployed.

Police were called to the scene and discovered that the vehicle had mounted the verge, resulting in damage to its bodywork. The registered keeper was spoken to who confirmed that prior to being removed from his property, the vehicle was undamaged..

Just after 7am the following morning police received a call from Hudson who admitted stealing the van the night before. He also told them where he had left it.

“It was obviously the same vehicle,” said Ms James.

Hudson was legally represented in court by Jess Hill who said that at the time of the offences, her client was heavily dependent on class A drugs.

“He was heavily influenced by drugs and was a Class A user,” she said. “He then decided to leave this lifestyle behind and is now clean from drugs, however hasn’t been able to tackle his alcohol abuse, which is why the more recent offences were committed.”

Ms Hill informed District Judge Mark Layton that Hudson, of Trewent Park, Freshwater East, works as a self-employed carpenter.

After considering the mitigation, Judge Layton sentenced Hudson to 42 weeks in custody. Half of the sentence will be serviced in prison, with the remaining time on post-sentence supervision.

He was ordered to pay £800 compensation for the damage caused to the Renault Kangoo, £350 costs and a £187 court surcharge. He was disqualified from driving for a total of five years and six months.

Crime

Scaffolder banned after cannabis smell reported from van

Published

4 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A SCAFFOLDER has been banned from driving for 14 months after an off-duty police officer smelt cannabis coming from his Volkswagen Transporter as it travelled through Slebech.

The report was made to police at around 10.30am on February 15. When officers located the vehicle, they discovered it was being driven by 46-year-old Christopher Bennett.

Further blood tests showed Bennett had 16.8 mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2.

This week Bennett, of Queensdown Gardens, Brislington, Bristol, pleaded guilty to drug-driving when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates. He was represented in court by Alaw Harries.

“The defendant is remorseful for his actions and recognises the seriousness of the offence,” Ms Harries told the Bench.

“He suffers significant pain following operations to his shoulders and has been prescribed codeine. But this causes drowsiness, so he began self-medicating using cannabis.

“On the day of the offence, he was in worse pain than usual, so he used cannabis earlier than he normally does.”

Ms Harries said the conviction would have serious financial consequences for Bennett, who works as a self-employed scaffolder.

“His driving licence is fundamental to his livelihood,” she said.

“The financial consequences are going to be significant to him, as well as to those who are dependent on him.”

Magistrates fined Bennett £600 and ordered him to pay a £240 surcharge and £85 costs.

He was disqualified from driving for 14 months.

Crime

Estate agent banned after drug-drive crash in Milford Haven

Published

4 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Alison Walker had nearly five times the legal benzoylecgonine limit in her system

A PEMBROKESHIRE estate agent has been banned from the road after admitting driving through Milford Haven with nearly five times the legal limit of a cocaine metabolite in her system.

Alison Walker, 59, was arrested on February 2 after her white MG was involved in a two-car collision on Great North Road, Milford Haven.

“Fortunately there were no injuries, just damage to the vehicles,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

After providing a positive roadside drug swipe, Walker was arrested and asked to provide blood samples. These showed she had 240mcg of benzoylecgonine in her system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

Walker, of Woodland Crescent, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to drug-driving and was represented in court by solicitor Tom Lloyd.

He told the bench that prior to the offence, Walker had been employed as an estate agent.

“She has a good relationship with her boss, and as soon as this conviction is dealt with and her sentence has been served, he will be happy for her to return to her employment,” he said.

After considering a comprehensive probation report, magistrates disqualified Walker from driving for 20 months.

She was fined £80 and ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs. Walker must also carry out a 12-month community order, during which she must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Crime

Pembroke Dock motorist banned after driving with cocaine in system

Published

5 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Court Reporter

A PEMBROKE DOCK motorist has been banned from the roads after being caught driving with more than seven times the legal cocaine limit in her system.

Naomi Grant, 47, was stopped by police on the night of February 6 as she drove her Vauxhall Astra along the A477 near Pembroke Dock.

After providing a positive roadside drug swipe, Grant, of Cheriton Road, Pennar, Pembroke Dock, was taken for further tests.

Blood analysis showed she had 74mcg of cocaine in her system. The legal limit is 10mcg. She also had 1,200mcg of benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine, where the legal limit is 50mcg.

This week Grant, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to two charges of drug-driving when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates.

She was represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd, who told the court that his client is currently prescribed a considerable amount of medication for a number of medical issues.

“She also has her own personal assistant as a result of her medical needs,” he said.

“She has done everything that has been asked of her in relation to this offence and has engaged with the Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service to help her move forward.”

Magistrates disqualified Grant from driving for 12 months and fined her £120.

She must also pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.