Crime

Drink-driving Neyland rugby player drove Discovery into two cars

Published

1 year ago

October 29, 2024

A NEYLAND Firsts rugby player has been ordered off the roads after driving into two parked vehicles when he was three times over the legal drink-drive limit.

Owain Evans, 24, spent the evening of September 28 drinking at the Neyland Community Hub following a game against the Harlequins earlier that afternoon.

“He can’t tell me how much he consumed, but it was probably a considerable amount as he can’t remember getting in his car and driving to his grandmother’s house in Llanstadwell,” probation officer Julie Norman told Judge Mark Layton sitting at Haverfordwest magistrates court this week.

But as Evans drove through John Street in Neyland, he lost control of his Land Rover Discovery and collided with two parked vehicles, both of which were subsequently written off by their insurers.

Police officers traced the Discovery to an address in Llanstadwell.

“The door was opened by a woman and Owain Evans was woken up,” said Crown Prosecutor Nia James. “When he came to the door, it was obvious that he was very drunk and there was damage to the front of his vehicle.”

A subsequent breath test carried out at a police custody suite showed Evans had 105 mcg of alcohol in his breath. The legal limit is 35.

Evans, of Mastlebridge, Neyland pleaded guilty to driving above the legal alcohol level and failing to stop after the road accident.

“He normally walks that distance from the rugby club to his home as it’s just over a mile,” added Julie Norman. “He simply can’t explain why he decided to get in his vehicle that day.”

Evans, who works as a self-employed carpenter, was disqualified from driving for 26 months. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order during which he must carry out 250 hours of unpaid work. He must pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Hakin man’s appeal delayed again as Crown Court seeks guidance on insurance law

Published

5 minutes ago

February 3, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

A HAKIN man’s long-running legal battle over road traffic convictions has been delayed again after a judge granted the Crown Prosecution Service more time to review the latest legal guidance on motor insurance law.

Seventy-six-year-old Niall Taylor, of Haven Drive, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Jan 13) for a mention hearing in his appeal against conviction.

Taylor is challenging findings that he drove without a valid licence and without insurance.

The case has already followed an unusual procedural route. Taylor initially pleaded not guilty before changing his plea part-way through the original magistrates’ court trial. That later raised questions over whether the plea had been “equivocal”, prompting the court to reopen proceedings under Section 142 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980.

A full rehearing was ordered, during which Taylor again entered not guilty pleas. Following a trial of the facts, magistrates found him guilty and sentenced him on Wednesday (Dec 3).

He has since lodged an appeal.

CPS given 28 days

During Tuesday’s hearing, His Honour Judge Walters granted counsel for the Crown Prosecution Service 28 days to review Wilkinson’s Road Traffic Offences (32nd Edition), the leading legal reference text used by courts and practitioners in road traffic cases.

The judge indicated that the legal position surrounding insurance cover may still require closer examination.

Addressing the court, Judge Walters said: “The court still might want to reconsider the sentence even if the insurance company is right. It does look as if different insurance companies do things in different ways.”

He added: “It is not in fact void, but it is voidable.”

Ongoing dispute

Taylor maintains that although there were administrative issues with his driving licence, a valid insurance policy was in force at the time and that, under retained European motor insurance law, third-party cover cannot simply be voided.

He argues that the matter amounts to a technical breach rather than deliberate offending.

Next hearing

The appeal is now scheduled to return to Swansea Crown Court on March 27, when further legal argument is expected.

Crime

Pembroke Dock woman admits breaching community order

Published

3 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Magistrates revoke sentence after missed appointments

A PEMBROKE DOCK woman has admitted breaching the terms of a community order.

Shannon Charge, aged 30, of Pater Court, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Feb 2).

She admitted failing to attend a scheduled probation appointment and a drug dependency appointment.

Magistrates revoked the existing community order and ordered her to pay £60 in court costs.

The court heard the order related to earlier offences, for which she had been made subject to rehabilitation and drug treatment requirements. A further review hearing is listed for March 2.