Crime

Cat swerve crash leads to drink-drive ban for Newport vet worker

Published

11 months ago

July 29, 2025

A NEWPORT woman has been banned from the road after admitting drink-driving when she crashed her car while swerving to avoid a cat.

Madeleine Young, 29, was driving her Hyundai i10 home in the early hours of July 13 after drinking five pints of beer at her local pub.

At around 1:00am she called emergency services to report that her car had collided with a parked vehicle in Church Street.

“She was wedged between a garden wall and a parked vehicle and both vehicles were damaged,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.

Police who arrived at the scene could smell alcohol on her breath. A roadside test showed 104 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35.

Further tests were delayed for three-and-a-half hours while Young was taken to Withybush Hospital for checks. By that time, her reading was 55 microgrammes.

Defence solicitor Alaw Harries said the delay was due to no availability at the police station and described the incident as “a lapse of judgement.”

“She turned to avoid hitting a cat and immediately called emergency services,” she said, adding that the ban would have “a catastrophic effect” on Young’s work as a veterinary physiotherapist, which depends on her being able to drive.

Young, of Ty Canol, Mountain West, Newport, was banned from driving for 13 months, fined £392, and ordered to pay a £157 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

20 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

20 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.