Crime

Milford Haven man banned for three years after second drug-driving conviction

Published

1 month ago

February 11, 2025

A MOTORIST who claimed to have taken cannabis “several days” before being stopped by police was found to have over four times the prescribed legal limit of the drug in his system.

Antonio Rodrigues, 27, was pulled over by officers just before 3:00pm on September 13, 2024, while driving his Smart car along an unclassified road off the A40 in Slebech.

A roadside drugs wipe proved positive, and further blood tests at the police custody suite confirmed he had 9.8 mcg of cannabis in his system—well above the legal limit of 2 mcg.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard this week that this was Rodrigues’ second drug-driving offence in a ten-year period.

“He’d taken the cannabis some days before, and there was nothing wrong with his driving,” said his solicitor, Michael Kelleher, after Rodrigues, of Croeso, Steynton Road, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to the offence.

“He had no idea he was over the limit.”

Mr Kelleher added that Rodrigues self-medicates with cannabis and is in the process of applying for a legal cannabis prescription.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for 36 months and fined him £120. He was also ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £48 court surcharge.

Crime

Majority of stolen sheep recovered after public appeal

Published

16 minutes ago

March 28, 2025

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE says it has recovered 63 of the 75 sheep reported stolen from a farm in Rhydlewis, near Newcastle Emlyn, following a public appeal for information earlier this week.

The ewes were located at three separate sites within the Dyfed-Powys Police area over the past four days.

Inspector Matthew Howells said: “I would like to thank everyone who shared our appeal, and the appeal from the owner, which was shared over 700 times and reached communities all over Wales and further afield. The support from farming communities near and afar has been vitally important in securing a positive outcome. I’d also like to thank those who came forward with information which enabled my officers to respond quickly, ensuring the safe return of these animals to their rightful owner.”

A 40-year-old man who was previously arrested on suspicion of theft has been released on bail while police enquiries continue.

Crime

Police investigate theft of 75 sheep from Newcastle Emlyn farm

Published

14 hours ago

March 27, 2025

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS Police is investigating the theft of approximately 75 sheep from a farm in the Newcastle Emlyn area.

The lamb yearling ewes were reported missing from farmland near Rhydlewis. Officers believe the theft occurred sometime between March 7 and March 17, 2025.

The stolen sheep are described as white-faced, with clean white wool and a faint yellow spot. They are believed to be continental cross ewes, similar in appearance to Texel crosses.

A 40-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of theft and remains in police custody.

Police are appealing to anyone who may have information that could assist with the investigation.

Anyone with details is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police via the following:

🖥️ | Online: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline
📧 | Email: [email protected]
📞 | Call: 101

Alternatively, information can be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111 or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.

Quote reference: 178 of March 23.

Crime

Unlicensed dog breeders prosecuted in Carmarthenshire

Published

14 hours ago

March 27, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Three found guilty of operating without a licence

THREE unlicensed dog breeders have been successfully prosecuted by Carmarthenshire County Council following an investigation into illegal breeding practices at a property in Cwmffrwd.

Donna Edwards, William Edwards and Elysia Jones, all of Gelligaeros Bungalow, Cwmffrwd, were found guilty at Swansea Crown Court on 10 February 2025 for operating a dog breeding business without the required licence.

Donna Edwards and her partner, Mark Thomas, had previously held a dog boarding licence for many years. However, in October 2020, they ceased boarding activities and began using the kennels for breeding instead. Despite informing the council that 19 dogs were being kept on the premises, and enquiring several times about obtaining a breeding licence, no formal application was ever submitted.

Carmarthenshire County Council had issued warnings about unlicensed activity, but the defendants continued to operate. In April 2021, the website Pets4Homes contacted the council to report that it had blocked three user accounts—registered under the names Donna Edwards, William Edwards, and Elysia Jones—all advertising puppies from the Gelligaeros address.

An investigation revealed that eight separate litters had been advertised from the property between June 2020 and March 2021.

As part of the prosecution, the council secured a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act, recovering a total of £81,509.93 from the defendants.

Sentencing was as follows:

Donna Edwards: 12-month Community Order with 70 hours of unpaid work, plus an £85 victim surcharge.
William Edwards: 12-month Community Order with 50 hours of unpaid work, plus an £85 victim surcharge.
Elysia Jones: 12-month Conditional Discharge and a £20 victim surcharge.

Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, praised the council’s Animal Health team for their efforts.

He said: “I would like to thank the Council’s Animal Health team for pursuing this case and bringing these illegal dog breeders to justice. Let this be a warning to others who continue to disregard the law—we will take action.”

Further information on the council’s work to uphold animal welfare standards can be found at Animal welfare – Carmarthenshire County Council.