News
Londoner gets fined for driving and drug offences
A LONDON man appeared in Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (Nov 18) after being charged with three driving offences and a charge of possession of cannabis. Derek Ford, aged 41 of Devon Mansions in Tooley Street pleaded guilty to driving a VW Golf without insurance, a licence or MOT certificate, and being in possession of 5.6g of cannabis.
Prosecutor, Ellie Morgan said: “At 12.15 on Monday October 27, Officer Williams was on patrol in Narberth and had noticed a VW Golf turn into Penblewin car park. He spoke to the driver and could smell cannabis. Ford initially stated he wasn’t in possession of any illegal substances, however 5.6 grams of cannabis was found in a wellington boot. He was asked for his detail and a check was carried out on the computer, which indicated Ford had no valid MOT certificate or insurance, and was arrested on suspicion of the offences he has now been charged with.
Ford had said ‘It’s my cannabis, it’s just for my own use’. He was interviewed in respect of the matters and asked about the vehicle. A police officer informed him that the MOT ran out in 2012. He was also not covered by insurance and has, in fact, never been covered. Ford said this was mainly down to financial reasons, laziness and stupidity. He said he’d got the cannabis off the high street at Glastonbury two days before and that he uses it as medicine, but accepts that it is an offence.”
Defence solicitor, Gareth Phillips said: “ Ford pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and has accepted matters. He originally spent some time in America, but has been in this country for 15 years. There was some confusion over law, but I have explained to him what the law is at present. He has a USA licence, but it doesn’t mean anything in the UK so he has to start from scratch and now has a provisional licence.” Magistrates fined Ford £75 for possession of cannabis and fined him £110 and endorsed his licence with 8 penalty points for the driving offences. He must also pay £85 cost and £20 victim surcharge.
Business
Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure
PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.
The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.
The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.
A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”
Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.
Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.
From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.
Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.
(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)
Community
Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend
ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.
In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”
Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.
Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.
Crime
Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm
THREE men admit their guilt after police discover over 700 cannabis plants during a raid on a former school building in Llandysul.
Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at the former Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Heol Llyn Y Fran on November 15. Inside, they found 737 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms.
Armeld Troksi, 29, and Njazi Gjana, 27, both from Empire Avenue in Edmonton, London, along with Ervin Gjana, 24, from Durham Avenue in Romford, were arrested at the scene and later charged with producing cannabis.
The three men appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where they admitted their involvement in the illegal operation. Defence solicitor Joshua Scouller requested a pre-sentence report for Ervin Gjana, which was granted by Judge Geraint Walters.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 20.
A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Following a warrant executed at the former school on Heol Llyn Y Fran, officers discovered a significant cannabis grow containing 737 plants.
“We are grateful to the local community for their continued support and cooperation. Officers will remain in the area while the site is secured.
“Our commitment remains firm in disrupting drug production and supply networks across our force area.
“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small it may seem. Every piece of information can make a difference, and reports can easily be submitted through our website.”
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