Previous drink-drive conviction triggered extended disqualification

A 54-YEAR-OLD woman has been banned from the roads for three years after being caught drug-driving on the main road through Johnston.

Julie Meehan was stopped by officers in the early hours of July 25 as she drove her Ford Fiesta along the A4076. A roadside drugs wipe returned a positive result, and subsequent blood analysis recorded 8 mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol. The legal limit is 2 mcg.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard this week that Meehan, of Silverdale Lodge, Johnston, had a previous drink-driving conviction within the last ten years, meaning her driving ban was subject to an automatic extension.

District Judge Mark Layton banned Meehan for a total of three years. She was also fined £120, ordered to pay £85 costs, and a £48 surcharge.

Driver found on rugby supporters’ bus after Range Rover spun out of control

A PEMBROKESHIRE housing and development site director has been sentenced after failing to provide a breath specimen when his Range Rover spun out of control and crashed into the central reservation near Haverfordwest.

Jason Greggain, 47, was seen driving erratically shortly before 8:30pm on September 28, with witnesses reporting the vehicle overtaking another car before hitting surface water and spinning out of control.

“A call was made to police saying that a Range Rover had been seen overtaking another vehicle and driving erratically,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week. “The vehicle was then seen spinning out of control.”

When officers arrived, the driver was nowhere to be found. Greggain was later located inside a white bus heading to a local rugby match, where he had been taken after the collision.

Greggain provided a positive roadside breath test, but once taken to Haverfordwest police station he refused to provide a further breath or blood specimen for analysis.

He pleaded guilty to the offence. His solicitor, Samuel Jenkins, told District Judge Mark Layton that Greggain’s refusal was not an attempt to evade justice, but stemmed from his belief that he should speak to a solicitor first.

Mr Jenkins said the collision occurred after Greggain aquaplaned while being followed by a coach returning from a rugby game.
“An ambulance arrived at the scene and conveyed Mr Greggain to the bus parked a short distance away,” he added. “When he got onto the bus, he was offered two bottles of beer, hence him being over the limit. Normally, he only drinks on special occasions.”

Judge Layton imposed a 12-month community order, requiring Greggain to complete 120 hours of unpaid work. He was also disqualified from driving for 20 months and must pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

Motorist told police he drank three pints shortly before being stopped

A MOTORIST who mistakenly believed his car was insured has been handed a lengthy driving ban after admitting drink-driving and using a vehicle without insurance.

Louis Price, 36, was stopped by officers shortly after 10:30pm on November 21 as he drove his BMW through Market Square, Narberth. Police checks confirmed the vehicle had no valid insurance in place.

When questioned, Price told officers he had consumed three pints of alcohol around 20 minutes before the stop. A roadside breath test recorded 55 mcg of alcohol, well above the legal limit of 35.

Price, of North Road, Whitland, pleaded guilty at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court to both offences.

He was fined a total of £1,800, ordered to pay a £720 surcharge and £85 costs, and was disqualified from driving for 16 months.