Defendant over limit after minor collision while driving to care for her mother

A PEMBROKESHIRE support worker has been banned from driving after being involved in a two-vehicle collision in Haverfordwest while over the legal drug-drive limit.

Police were called to Pembroke Road at around 6:30pm on June 13 after a Hyundai i10 collided with another vehicle. At the scene, officers found the Hyundai’s driver, Sarah Richards, aged 54.

A roadside drugs test proved positive, and subsequent blood analysis at the police station showed Richards had 3mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol — the active component of cannabis — in her system. The legal limit is 2mcg.

“The defendant was not the cause of the accident, and the other driver is now under investigation for what took place,” Richards’ solicitor, Jess Hill, told Haverfordwest magistrates after Richards entered a guilty plea.

“She was driving to her mother’s home as she needed to put her mother to bed, as she will soon require round-the-clock care. Without her driving licence, this will no longer be possible.”

Hill added that the mandatory driving ban was likely to result in the loss of Richards’ employment, as she relies on her car to travel to and from her job supporting adults with learning disabilities.

Richards, of Grassholm Place, Broadway, Broad Haven, was disqualified from driving for 12 months. She was fined £440 and ordered to pay £176 in surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.

Driver shouted abuse and stormed out before sentencing for refusing blood test

A 52-YEAR-OLD Haverfordwest woman brought court proceedings to a halt this week with a furious outburst against the police.

“This county is full of wrong’uns,” shouted Sally Nolan from the dock at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (Nov 11).

“Two police officers arrested me for nothing and got away with it. You’re all bent, man – the lot of you.”

Nolan, of Three Meadows, Haverfordwest, had pleaded guilty to failing to provide a blood specimen for laboratory analysis after being stopped by officers while driving through Johnston on August 15.

“Initially she complied with the police enquiries, but when she was taken into custody she refused to provide a specimen, saying the police were corrupt,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan.

Her behaviour escalated in court, prompting senior legal manager Nathan Chapman to order her removal from the dock. However, when Nolan was readmitted some 90 minutes later, the disruption continued.

“I’ve never been done for drink or drugs, so this was an unlawful arrest,” she declared. “You’ve villainised me and I’m not going away until I get justice. And by the way, I’m going now — you can send me a letter in the post.”

Magistrates proceeded to deliver their verdict in her absence. Nolan was fined £300 and ordered to pay £650 in prosecution costs and a £120 surcharge, bringing the total to £1,070. She was also disqualified from driving for 18 months.

AN 84-year-old convicted Pembrokeshire sex offender faces another custodial sentence after breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposed following his previous conviction.

On October 2, police officers discovered that Barry Hollingsworth, of Slade Park, Haverfordwest, was in possession of a new mobile phone. Despite being a registered sex offender and subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, Hollingsworth had failed to register the device with police as required.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court that further investigation revealed a text message from Vodafone confirming that Hollingsworth had requested a ‘pay-as-you-go’ SIM card for the phone.

Ms Vaughan described Hollingsworth as a persistent breacher of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order, noting that his last breach resulted in a 27-month custodial sentence.

This week he pleaded guilty to the latest breach, and the court was told that he now faces a further custodial term of at least 12 months.

Following submissions from both the Crown Prosecution Service and the court’s senior legal manager, Nathan Chapman, magistrates declined jurisdiction on sentencing. Hollingsworth will be sentenced by a judge at Swansea Crown Court on November 25.

He was released on unconditional bail.