Crime

Pensioner begs for return of marshmallow tea seized in cannabis raid

Published

10 months ago

April 8, 2025

A ST DAVIDS pensioner has urged Dyfed-Powys Police to return her marshmallow tea—after it was seized during a drugs raid at her home.

Barbara Lewis, of High Street, St Davids, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday (Apr 8) following her arrest the previous day.

Police had executed a drugs warrant at her property on January 3 and discovered 3.4 grams of cannabis. In the process, officers also confiscated what they believed to be other suspicious substances—including a packet of marshmallow root tea.

Ms Lewis was due to appear in court on February 11, but failed to attend. Her solicitor, Michael Kelleher, told the court she had been on holiday in Portugal at the time.

“Her passport was stolen while she was abroad,” he explained. “She was due to fly home the day before court, but with no passport, she was stuck in limbo and unable to travel.”

Ms Lewis was arrested on Monday and spent a night in police custody before her court appearance.

She pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis, a Class B drug, and to failing to surrender to bail. Magistrates handed her a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered her to pay £85 in court costs and a £25 victim surcharge. A forfeiture and destruction order was made for the cannabis.

But before she left the courtroom, the pensioner made one final plea—to the magistrates.

“Can I have my marshmallow tea back, please?” she asked. “Because when the police arrested me, they took that too. They thought it was cannabis!”

Whether the officers will brew over their decision remains to be seen.

Crime

Pembroke Dock woman admits breaching community order

Published

2 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.

Crime

Milford Haven man given extra unpaid work after breaching court order

Published

3 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Magistrates add hours after missed appointments

A MILFORD HAVEN man has been ordered to complete extra unpaid work after breaching the terms of a community order.

Peter Jones, aged 33, of Precelly Place, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Feb 2).

He admitted failing to attend scheduled unpaid work and a probation appointment earlier this month.

Magistrates varied the order, imposing an additional 10 hours of unpaid work. Jones was also ordered to pay £60 in court costs.

The court heard the original community order followed an earlier conviction.

Crime

Dorset man stopped at Fishguard ferry given domestic violence order

Published

3 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Magistrates told of 13 prior incidents as protection order imposed

A DORSET man was stopped by police at Fishguard Harbour while attempting to travel to Ireland and has now been made subject to a Domestic Violence Protection Order.

Nathaniel Cruickshank, aged 22, of Gillingham, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Feb 2).

The court heard he had travelled to Pembrokeshire on January 30 and was intercepted at the ferry port while planning to board a sailing to Ireland with his partner, prompting police intervention.

Magistrates were told Cruickshank has a lengthy history of domestic violence and abusive behaviour, with officers having attended 13 separate incidents involving him.

Prosecutors outlined a number of previous allegations, including an incident in which he punched his mother in the face and another where he smashed a family television with a guitar after being refused money.

The court also heard that on January 29 a protected person attended their GP surgery expressing fear of him, triggering safeguarding measures.

Police subsequently served a Domestic Violence Protection Notice, and Cruickshank was later arrested at Fishguard.

Magistrates granted a 28-day Domestic Violence Protection Order preventing him from threatening or using violence, making any direct or indirect contact with the protected person, or returning to her address.

Issuing a warning in court, magistrates told him any breach would have serious consequences.