Crime

Police officer sentenced for careless driving while on duty

Published

9 months ago

May 7, 2025

A POLICE officer has been sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after admitting careless driving while on duty during a road traffic collision in the Ammanford area.

PC Phil Thomas received six penalty points on his driving licence, a £275 fine, and a £110 victim surcharge, all to be paid within 28 days.

The incident took place on Monday, September 29, 2024. PC Thomas was originally charged with dangerous driving, a charge he denied. However, he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of careless driving, which was accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service.

The court heard that PC Thomas, driving a marked police vehicle, was pursuing another vehicle travelling at excess speed when he veered into the opposite carriageway. He struck the offside panel of an oncoming vehicle before colliding with a lamppost. The other driver sustained minor injuries, including cuts and lacerations, and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Superintendent Phil Rowe, Head of the Professional Standards Department, said: “PC Thomas is a police response driver and had undertaken training, which included following and attempting to stop vehicles with blue lights illuminated. However, his driving on that day fell below the standard expected of an officer trained in such circumstances. It is only proper that he has been held to account for his actions.”

Since the incident, PC Thomas has been re-deployed from frontline duties. A parallel gross misconduct investigation is underway by the Professional Standards Department. A decision on whether there is a case to answer will be made by the Appropriate Authority in due course.

Crime

Pembroke Dock woman admits breaching community order

Published

26 minutes 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

30 minutes 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

42 minutes 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.