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Crime

Council chief’s son spared jail after drug-fuelled A40 crash

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Judge says driver showed “breathtaking arrogance” after taking cocaine, cannabis and diazepam

A SENIOR council officer’s son came close to immediate imprisonment after driving dangerously for several miles while under the influence of three drugs before crashing into two vehicles on the A40, a court has heard.

Benedict Bramble, aged 24, of Saundersfoot, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after admitting dangerous driving and three counts of drug driving following the incident near Haverfordwest on Thursday, May 15.

The court heard that Bramble was driving an Audi A3 when members of the public contacted police to report his erratic behaviour on the road.

Prosecutor Dean Pulling said one witness described the driving as “completely erratic and utterly dangerous,” with the defendant seen swerving across the carriageway, crossing solid white lines and overtaking other motorists.

At one point, Bramble was observed changing his clothes while driving in slow-moving and queuing traffic.

Dashcam footage shown to the court captured the defendant narrowly avoiding a head-on collision with a tractor while attempting an overtaking manoeuvre, having to sharply pull back into his lane.

The incident came to an end at around 3.40pm after a seven-mile stretch of dangerous driving, when Bramble collided with two vehicles, both of which were written off.

The court was told that tensions were high at the scene, with one motorist so angry at Bramble’s actions that they assaulted him following the crash.

Blood tests later revealed Bramble had 240 micrograms of cocaine, 2.8 micrograms of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 1,155 micrograms of diazepam in his system at the time of the collision. He was five times over the legal limit for a cocaine derivative.

The case was initially heard at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, November 25, where Crown Prosecutor Nia James told the court that two vehicles had been written off as a result of the crash.

“The Crown puts this at the starting point of 18 months in custody,” she said.

Due to the seriousness of the offences, District Judge Mark Layton declined jurisdiction and committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence. Bramble was given an interim driving disqualification and released on unconditional bail.

During that earlier hearing, Bramble was accompanied by his father, Will Bramble CBE, a retired army major general and the chief executive of Pembrokeshire County Council.

At sentencing, the court also heard that Bramble had a previous conviction for driving without due care and attention in New Hedges, near Tenby, committed just three days before the A40 incident.

Defending, Mark Haslam said his client had strong family support and had shown genuine remorse.

He told the court: “There are extremely powerful character references which speak very highly of this defendant and his potential.

“He has stopped taking drugs and understands the seriousness of what he has done.

“If he goes to prison today, he will lose his job and probably lose his relationship.”

Passing sentence, Judge Huw Rees told Bramble: “You displayed breathtaking arrogance in driving in this way.

“You took hideous risks.

“You could have killed somebody that day — you could have killed yourself.”

Bramble was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay £582 in fines, costs and surcharge, and was banned from driving for two years and ordered to take an extended retest.

Commenting on how narrowly he avoided being jailed straight away, Judge Rees added: “You have come as close as close can be to serving this sentence immediately.”

 

Crime

Teenager banned from roads after being caught six times over drug-drive limit

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A DOCK teenager has lost his licence after driving his vehicle on the Cleddau Bridge when he was six times over the legal drug-drive limit.

Gethin Moseley, 19, was stopped by officers carrying out random traffic checks on the bridge on January 24.  Smelling cannabis emanating from his Mazda, a roadside drugs swipe was carried out which proved positive  Subsequent blood tests showed that Moseley had 14 mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system, the legal limit being 2.

Moseley, of Milton Terrace, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to drug-driving when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week.  He was represented in court by solicitor Jess Hill who informed the Bench that the defendant only uses cannabis recreationally or socially.  He has no previous convictions.

Moseley was fined £249 and ordered to pay a £100 court surcharge and £85 costs.  He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

 

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Crime

Drunk motorist arrested at Pembrokeshire petrol station

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A Johnston motorist has appeared before magistrates after being caught driving when he was almost twice the legal drink-drive limit.

Police received a call at around 11am on April 23 from a member of the public concerned that local resident Martin Phelps, 55, was driving after consuming alcohol.

“He was at the petrol station and the member of the public was concerned that he was drunk,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“When they arrived, they could see he  was unsteady on his feet and had trouble getting into his parked vehicle.”

 When spoken to by the officers, Phelps admitted drinking alcohol earlier that morning.  Subsequent breathalyser tests carried out at the police station, showed that Phelps had 68 mcg of alcohol in his system, the legal limit being 35.

Phelps, of Langford Road, Johnston,  pleaded guilty to drink-driving and was represented in court by solicitor Jess Hill.

“He’s had a troublesome relationship with alcohol which has increased over the years,” she told the court.

“He’s engaged with the Dyfed Drugs and Alcohol Advisory Service and Alcoholics Anonymous  over the years, and this incident has been a wake up call for him.”

Phelps was disqualified from driving for 17 months and fined £120.  He must also pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.  He was disqualified form driving for 17 months.

 

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Crime

Violent man jailed after ‘Banksy’ claims and campaign of domestic abuse

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A PEMBROKESHIRE woman told a court she wished her former partner had killed her after enduring a campaign of violence and coercive control by a man who claimed to be Banksy.

Patrick Smyth, 49, of Oaks Avenue, Romford, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday to 22 months in custody after admitting coercive and controlling behaviour and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Swansea Crown Court heard that Smyth met the woman while on holiday in Tunisia in 2024 and later travelled from Essex to visit her in Haverfordwest.

Thomas Scapens KC, prosecuting, said Smyth quickly began mentally and physically abusing her. He checked her phone, isolated her from friends and family, and installed a phone tracking app which he controlled under the username “Powerful 666”.

He also claimed he was Banksy, the world-famous street artist, telling the victim he was powerful, wealthy and well connected.

“He copied Banksy’s signature and presented it to her, and she believed everything he told her,” Mr Scapens said.

The court heard that Smyth’s abuse escalated during a trip to Cardiff in July 2025, when the couple attended a concert. Smyth lost his temper and had to be removed by security.

Later, at the Coal Exchange hotel, he locked the victim in a room and placed a chair under the door handle to stop her leaving.

“He beat her continuously,” said Mr Scapens. “He put his hand around her throat to prevent her breathing.”

Hotel staff heard him calling her a “slag” and later saw reddening to her neck. They moved the woman to another room for her safety, but Smyth repeatedly tried to force his way inside, banging on the door and shouting.

Staff contacted the woman’s son, who worked in Cardiff. When he arrived, he became emotional after seeing her condition.

In September 2025, Smyth threw the woman into a wardrobe, fracturing two of her ribs. The following month, despite being on bail with a condition not to contact her, he turned up at her home.

“He pushed past her, tied her to a chair in the kitchen and turned off the lights,” said Mr Scapens.

The court heard Smyth refused to let her use the toilet and told her men were coming from London to put her in a pre-dug grave.

The final incident happened in October after the couple visited Morrisons in Haverfordwest. Smyth became aggressive in the store and threw shopping items at the victim. Concerned staff asked a security guard to shadow them.

During the taxi journey home, Smyth threatened to break the woman’s legs and punch her. When the taxi driver intervened, Smyth threatened to break his legs too.

Later that evening, a 999 call was made. No one spoke, but officers could hear a woman screaming and a man’s voice in the background.

When police arrived, they found the victim with cuts to her head. She was extremely upset and tried to hide her face in her roll-neck jumper.

When asked what had happened, she said: “I would in a heartbeat, but I can’t.” The court heard this was because Smyth was listening outside.

In a victim impact statement read to Judge Catherine Richards, the woman said her life had been “fundamentally scarred”.

“I hid my injuries away from other family members because I was scared,” she said.

“I’m scared to go out in case Patrick is there. I don’t treat life the same way anymore and I don’t leave the house by myself.

“It got to the point where I wish Patrick had killed me because I’d prefer to be dead. I’ll never be the same again.”

Smyth appeared by video link from prison, where he had been remanded since his arrest.

His barrister said he “wishes no bad will on the victim” and had reflected on his behaviour.

“He wishes to apologise,” she said. “He has no intention of making any further form of contact with her. Custody has acted as a wake-up call.”

Sentencing Smyth to 22 months in custody, Judge Richards said half would be served in prison and the remainder on licence.

 

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