Crime

Dairy farm worker caught drink-driving after whisky binge

Published

1 year ago

February 25, 2025

A DAIRY FARM worker has been sentenced for hitting a kerb before wavering across the A40 dual carriageway after a whisky drinking binge.

Police received calls just after 3:30pm on February 9 that a grey BMW 320 had been seen travelling on the Carmarthen to St Clears road.

“It was swerving to the nearside, collided with a kerb and then began wavering towards the centre line, almost crossing into lane two,” Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

When officers stopped the vehicle, they discovered it was being driven by Madalin-Gorge Pascu, 35, who is an employee at the Parc-yr-Abbott dairy farm in St Clears.

A roadside breath test proved positive, while further breath tests carried out at the police custody suite showed he had 69 mcg of alcohol in his breath. The legal limit is 35.

Pascu, who resides in a caravan at Parc yr Abbott Farm, pleaded guilty to the drink-driving charge. He was represented in court by solicitor Aled Owen, who said the defendant had been drinking whisky the night before with some work colleagues.

“He works very long, intensive and difficult shifts of between 12 and 14 hours a day,” said Mr Owen.

“The night before, he and some colleagues had been drinking whisky at the farm. The following day he failed to recognise that he wasn’t fit to drive, so this was negligence on his part.

“In future, if he drinks to excess with his colleagues, then he’ll have to be more careful.”

Madaloin-Gorge Pascu was disqualified from driving for 17 months. He was fined £500 and ordered to pay a £200 court surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

11 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

A SPITTAL man is to stand trial accused of assaulting a man and causing actual bodily harm.

Robert Hedley, 41, of Wesley Way, Spittal, Haverfordwest, is charged with assaulting Liam Morley-Trivett at St Clears on August 30, 2025.

The case was before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jun 18).

Hedley was granted unconditional bail and is due to stand trial at the same court on Monday, June 29.

The trial is listed for 10:00am and has been given a time estimate of twenty minutes.

Crime

Milford Haven woman spared jail despite string of shop thefts

Published

11 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Repeat offender stole from Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and petrol stations in wave of offences

A MILFORD HAVEN woman who admitted a series of shop thefts committed over a matter of weeks has been handed a suspended prison sentence by magistrates.

Marion Picton, aged 46, of Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 18) and pleaded guilty to eight theft offences and a drugs-related offence.

The court heard that Picton carried out a string of thefts at stores across Milford Haven between April and June this year.

Among the offences, Picton admitted stealing meat from Food Warehouse on Apr 23, food worth £60 from Victoria Filling Station on May 29, groceries from Home Bargains on Jun 7 and Jun 8, food from Victoria Filling Station on Jun 7 and Jun 9, groceries and non-food items worth £51.09 from Tesco on Jun 16, and food worth £32.50 from Food Warehouse on the same day.

She also admitted failing to attend an initial drugs assessment after testing positive for Class A drugs, including cocaine and opiates.

Magistrates were told the offences represented persistent repeat offending and had been committed while Picton was already subject to a court order.

The bench imposed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

As part of the order, Picton must complete up to 15 rehabilitation activity days under the supervision of the Probation Service.

The court ordered her to pay compensation to several of the businesses affected, including Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and Victoria Filling Station.

In sentencing, magistrates said the offences were serious enough to justify immediate custody but suspended the sentence because there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and Picton appeared motivated to address her addiction issues.

Picton was warned that any further offending during the 18-month suspension period could see the prison sentence activated.