Driver stopped in early hours after police detected smell of cannabis

A MILFORD HAVEN motorist has been convicted of drug-driving after being stopped by police in the early hours of the morning.

John Hilton, aged 42, was pulled over just before 1:00am on October 19 after officers observed him driving at excessive speed along Langford Road, Johnston.

When the vehicle was stopped, officers detected a strong smell of cannabis coming from inside. Hilton told police that he had consumed cannabis the previous day.

Blood tests later carried out at the police station showed that Hilton had 16 micrograms of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2 micrograms.

Appearing before Haverfordwest magistrates this week, Hilton, of Oaklands, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to the drug-driving offence.

His solicitor, Tom Lloyd, told the court that Hilton had been using cannabis as a form of self-medication.

“But I’m pleased to say that he no longer uses the drug,” said Mr Lloyd.

The court heard that Hilton is already disqualified from driving for three years following a previous drink-driving conviction in 2021.

Magistrates fined him £120 and ordered him to pay a £48 court surcharge and £85 in costs.

Motorist seen leaving pub before erratic driving raised police concerns

A RUSSIAN project manager has appeared before magistrates after being caught driving through Pembrokeshire while over the legal drink-drive limit.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard this week that police officers observed Anatoliy Manzul, aged 45, leaving a pub in Steynton, Milford Haven, just before midnight on December 12.

“Their concern was prompted by the standard of his driving,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court.

“He was seen indicating that he was going to turn, but then failed to do so, and his speed was fluctuating between 20 and 60 miles an hour.”

Manzul was eventually stopped by officers at the Honeyborough roundabout in Neyland, where a roadside breath test proved positive. Further tests carried out at the police station showed he had 67 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

The court was told that checks revealed Manzul, of Cheriton House, Water Street, Pembroke Dock, holds a full Moldovan driving licence but only a provisional UK driving licence.

He pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, and driving without third-party insurance.

Mitigating, his solicitor Tom Lloyd said Manzul has worked in the UK for the past ten years and has been based in Pembrokeshire for the last three months, where he has been employed as a project manager overseeing the renovation of a care home.

Manzul was fined £537 and ordered to pay a £215 court surcharge and £85 in costs. He was disqualified from driving for 17 months and had his licence endorsed with six penalty points.

Multiple 999 calls after van hit hedge and was involved in further collisions

A 60-YEAR-OLD motorist has admitted driving while more than three times the legal drink-drive limit after members of the public raised the alarm over his manner of driving in Broad Haven.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard this week that police received numerous 999 calls on December 6 after a Citroën Dispatch van was seen being driven erratically along Enfield Road.

“It collided with a hedge at one point and was also involved in further accidents as it continued on its journey,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court. “Naturally, there was considerable concern about the standard of driving.”

Officers later stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as Martin Hadley, 60, of Sandyke Road, Broad Haven.

A roadside breath test proved positive, and further analysis showed Hadley had 108 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath — more than three times the legal limit.

Due to the high reading, magistrates ordered a probation report ahead of sentencing. Hadley was given an interim driving ban and will be sentenced on January 7.