Judge says presence of second drug pushed case over custody threshold

A NORTH Pembrokeshire motorist has narrowly avoided an immediate prison sentence after he was caught driving at excessive speeds through Haverfordwest town centre with cannabis, cocaine and benzoylecgonine in his system.

George Cornell, aged twenty-seven and of Golwg y Llan, Eglwyswrw, was stopped by officers shortly after 2:30pm on June 9 as he drove his Peugeot 207 past Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.

“He was travelling in excess of the speed limit,” Crown prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court.

Subsequent blood tests showed Cornell had 4.6 mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system, together with traces of cocaine and its metabolite, benzoylecgonine.

District Judge Mark Layton said the presence of a second drug meant the offence “crossed the custody threshold”.

Cornell pleaded guilty. Representing him, solicitor Tom Lloyd said his client had recently suffered two broken vertebrae, forcing him to abandon his work as a full-time carer.

“He’s gone from someone who worked in the caring industry to someone who now needs care himself,” he said. “He is remorseful and terrified of the prospect of prison.”

Cornell was sentenced to eight weeks’ custody, suspended for twelve months. He was disqualified from driving for thirty months and ordered to pay a £154 surcharge and £85 in court costs.

Solicitor says break-up and family argument led to “bad time”

A TRAINEE Pembrokeshire accountant has been banned from the roads after admitting driving his Volkswagen Polo while over the drink-drive limit.

Ryan Phillips, aged 22, was stopped just after midnight on November 22 as he travelled along the B4314 between Robeston Wathen and Coxlake Bridge. A roadside breath test showed 45mcg of alcohol in his system; the legal limit is 35.

Phillips, of Lynmouth, Wooden, Saundersfoot, pleaded guilty when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week. He was represented by solicitor Samuel Jenkins, who told the court his client had been experiencing “a bad time” at the point of the offence.

“Shortly before the incident he had separated from his long-term partner of several years, which impacted him quite badly,” he said.

“That night he’d had an argument with his parents and decided to leave home and sleep in his car. He’d had two glasses of rum and didn’t believe he was over the limit.”

Magistrates disqualified Phillips from driving for twelve months. He was also fined £220 and ordered to pay £85 in court costs and an £88 surcharge.

Laugharne elects jury trial despite CPS saying case suitable for magistrates’ court

A 74-YEAR-OLD Milford Haven man has appeared before a district judge charged with intentionally exposing his genitals on two separate occasions.

Stewart Laugharne, of Dairy Park Grove, Hakin, is accused of committing the offence of exposure on 7 August and again on 26 August. Both alleged incidents occurred at a location in Milford Haven which has not been disclosed in open court.

Laugharne appeared before District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week, where he formally denied both charges.

Although the Crown Prosecution Service indicated the case was suitable to be heard summarily at the magistrates’ court, Laugharne elected trial by jury. The matter has now been sent to Swansea Crown Court, where proceedings will begin on 9 January.

Laugharne was granted conditional bail, with a requirement that he must not contact any prosecution witnesses involved in the case.