Crime
Ospreys scrum half cleared of designer watch robbery charges
OSPREYS scrum half Luke Davies, alongside three other men, has been acquitted of stealing four designer watches, valued at £1,800, in a case presented at Swansea Crown Court.
Davies, Adam Thomas, Jordan Ball, and Jake Ball, along with former Wales U20 hooker Dom Booth, had faced charges alleging the robbery of two TAG watches, one Breitling, and one Radar from a residence on New Road, Llanelli, on December 24, 2021. Initially, all five men pleaded not guilty, with a trial set for November 18.
However, 24-year-old Booth, of Pyatts Nest in Saundersfoot, later changed his plea to guilty in September. Meanwhile, Davies, of Tir Becca, Tumble; 24-year-old Thomas, of Heol Waunyclun, Trimsaran; Jordan Ball, 25, of Maes Y Glo, Llanelli; and Jake Ball, 21, also of Maes Y Glo, Llanelli, maintained their not guilty pleas.
The case returned to Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Oct 31), where prosecutor Ieuan Rees announced that the Crown Prosecution Service would offer no evidence against the four remaining defendants. Rees cited that the complainant had not cooperated with the prosecution and was under investigation for fraud, questioning his credibility.
Judge Geraint Walters, expressing “great reluctance and a great deal of anxiety,” directed not guilty verdicts for Davies, Thomas, and the Ball brothers.
Booth’s earlier guilty plea is now likely to be challenged, with his representatives expected to apply to vacate the plea.
Davies, 22, who joined Ospreys from Jersey Reds last year after progressing through Scarlets’ ranks, has since made 13 appearances in the United Rugby Championship and represents Wales at the U20 level. Booth, previously with Scarlets, made his debut in the Pro14 against Edinburgh in 2020 and also played for Wales at the U20 level.
Crime
Court hears man exposed his flaccid manhood ‘by accident’
A 21-YEAR-OLD Pembrokeshire man has appeared before magistrates charged with intentionally exposing his genitals in a public place.
Thomas Jones is accused of carrying out the act at a property in New Moat, Clarbeston Road, on November 9, 2022.
“The defendant knocked on the door of a female and offered his gardening services,” Crown prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
“She accepted his offer and moved her car so that he could move his van, but when she turned around, she could see his flaccid penis was outside his trousers. When she pointed this out to him, he said he didn’t know that it was exposed.”
Jones denies the charge. He was released on unconditional bail to await his trial at Haverfordwest magistrates court on January 6.
Crime
Regular cocaine user from Milford Haven taken off the road
A MILFORD HAVEN resident who admits to being a regular cocaine user has lost his driving licence after being found behind the wheel when he was 15 times over the legal Benzoylecgonine limit.
Teifion Morse, 41, was stopped by officers just before midnight on May 1 following reports that he was driving his Vauxhall Insignia along the A477 at excessive speeds.
“The vehicle was travelling westwards towards Kilgetty, and Teifion Morse was the driver and the sole occupant, “ Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
A roadside drugs wipe proved positive while further blood tests carried out at the police custody suite showed that Morse had 800 mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system (the legal limit is 50), and 20 mcg of cocaine. The legal limit is 10.
Ms James said that when Morse was spoken to by officers, he told them that he knew the readings would be positive. “I’ve done stupid amounts today,” he said.
Morse, of Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to two charges of drug driving. A probation report stated that since leaving the military five and a half years ago, Morse has suffered from mental health issues.
He’s been using cocaine as a coping mechanism,” said the probation officer. “He freely admits that he uses cocaine to help him cope, but it’s spiralled and is getting more and more out of control. He would like support to kick this habit.”
Morse chose to be legally unrepresented when he appeared before magistrates.
“It was my stupid fault and I’m trying to take the correct steps to get on the right path,” he said in mitigation.
Morse was sentenced to an 18-month community order during which he must carry out 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work. He was disqualified from driving for 15 months and must pay a £140 court surcharge and £85 costs.
Crime
Motorist manned from driving after being caught over limit
A PEMBROKE DOCK motorist has been ordered off the roads after driving through Pembroke town centre when he was over the drink-drive limit.
Just before 1am on October 31, police officers stopped a Vauxhall Zafira that was being driven along South Road by Cameron Sell, 23, who was exceeding the speed limit.
“He was acting erratically when he was speaking to the officer,” Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverofrdwest magistrates this week.
A roadside breath test proved positive and subsequent breath tests carried out at the police station showed Sell had 42 mcg of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35.
After considering the facts, magistrates fined Sell £300 and ordered him to pay a £120 court surcharge and £85 costs. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.
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