Crime

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

Published

6 months ago

December 23, 2025

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

Scaffolder banned after cannabis smell reported from van

Published

13 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A SCAFFOLDER has been banned from driving for 14 months after an off-duty police officer smelt cannabis coming from his Volkswagen Transporter as it travelled through Slebech.

The report was made to police at around 10.30am on February 15. When officers located the vehicle, they discovered it was being driven by 46-year-old Christopher Bennett.

Further blood tests showed Bennett had 16.8 mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2.

This week Bennett, of Queensdown Gardens, Brislington, Bristol, pleaded guilty to drug-driving when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates. He was represented in court by Alaw Harries.

“The defendant is remorseful for his actions and recognises the seriousness of the offence,” Ms Harries told the Bench.

“He suffers significant pain following operations to his shoulders and has been prescribed codeine. But this causes drowsiness, so he began self-medicating using cannabis.

“On the day of the offence, he was in worse pain than usual, so he used cannabis earlier than he normally does.”

Ms Harries said the conviction would have serious financial consequences for Bennett, who works as a self-employed scaffolder.

“His driving licence is fundamental to his livelihood,” she said.

“The financial consequences are going to be significant to him, as well as to those who are dependent on him.”

Magistrates fined Bennett £600 and ordered him to pay a £240 surcharge and £85 costs.

He was disqualified from driving for 14 months.

Crime

Estate agent banned after drug-drive crash in Milford Haven

Published

13 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Alison Walker had nearly five times the legal benzoylecgonine limit in her system

A PEMBROKESHIRE estate agent has been banned from the road after admitting driving through Milford Haven with nearly five times the legal limit of a cocaine metabolite in her system.

Alison Walker, 59, was arrested on February 2 after her white MG was involved in a two-car collision on Great North Road, Milford Haven.

“Fortunately there were no injuries, just damage to the vehicles,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

After providing a positive roadside drug swipe, Walker was arrested and asked to provide blood samples. These showed she had 240mcg of benzoylecgonine in her system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

Walker, of Woodland Crescent, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to drug-driving and was represented in court by solicitor Tom Lloyd.

He told the bench that prior to the offence, Walker had been employed as an estate agent.

“She has a good relationship with her boss, and as soon as this conviction is dealt with and her sentence has been served, he will be happy for her to return to her employment,” he said.

After considering a comprehensive probation report, magistrates disqualified Walker from driving for 20 months.

She was fined £80 and ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs. Walker must also carry out a 12-month community order, during which she must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Crime

Pembroke Dock motorist banned after driving with cocaine in system

Published

14 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Court Reporter

A PEMBROKE DOCK motorist has been banned from the roads after being caught driving with more than seven times the legal cocaine limit in her system.

Naomi Grant, 47, was stopped by police on the night of February 6 as she drove her Vauxhall Astra along the A477 near Pembroke Dock.

After providing a positive roadside drug swipe, Grant, of Cheriton Road, Pennar, Pembroke Dock, was taken for further tests.

Blood analysis showed she had 74mcg of cocaine in her system. The legal limit is 10mcg. She also had 1,200mcg of benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine, where the legal limit is 50mcg.

This week Grant, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to two charges of drug-driving when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates.

She was represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd, who told the court that his client is currently prescribed a considerable amount of medication for a number of medical issues.

“She also has her own personal assistant as a result of her medical needs,” he said.

“She has done everything that has been asked of her in relation to this offence and has engaged with the Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service to help her move forward.”

Magistrates disqualified Grant from driving for 12 months and fined her £120.

She must also pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.