NATHAN REES, 42, was stopped in Haverfordwest while driving a work van and later gave a breath test reading of 73mcg, more than twice the legal limit

A Pembrokeshire biomass engineer who decided to drive home on Christmas Eve after drinking several pints has been hit with a four-figure penalty after being caught over twice the legal limit.

Nathan Rees, 42, was stopped by police at around 3:45pm on Christmas Eve as he drove his work van along Dredgeman Hill, Haverfordwest.

“It was a routine stop check, and when spoken to by officers, he said he’d drunk two pints of beer,” Crown Prosecutor Dennis Davies told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

However, a subsequent breath test showed Rees had 73mcg of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35.

Rees pleaded guilty to drink-driving. His solicitor Sarah John told the court the offence was out of character and had left her client extremely remorseful.

“This was a very foolish mistake and totally out of character,” she said. “He’s extremely remorseful and understands the ramifications that drink-driving has on the wider community.”

Ms John said the conviction has had a devastating impact on Rees, who has now had to give up his job.

“He was a biomass engineer for which he earned around £40,000 a year, but he’s now had to hand in his notice as his job involved driving all over the country,” she said. “He was the main breadwinner and now feels very guilty about the financial and emotional toll that it’s taken on him.”

Rees, of St Lawrence Avenue, Hakin, was disqualified from driving for 19 months. He was fined £768 and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £307 victim surcharge.

“This was a very foolish thing to do, as I’m sure you’re now aware,” the presiding magistrate told him when passing sentence.

Ben John, 33, was discovered in a running car at Bridge Meadow and later gave a breath test reading of 74mcg, magistrates heard

A PEMBROKESHIRE plumber has kept his driving licence after police found him asleep behind the wheel of his car while over the legal alcohol limit.

Officers discovered Ben John, 33, in a red Mini at around 5:00am on December 27, as they carried out an unrelated search at Bridge Meadow car park, Haverfordwest.

“The keys were in the ignition, the engine was on and a can of Fosters could be seen in the cup holder,” Crown Prosecutor Dennis Davies told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“The officers could also see the defendant slumped over in the driver’s seat.”

Mr Davies said that when officers knocked on the window, John pressed his foot on the accelerator, causing the engine to rev. A breath test carried out at the police station later showed he had 74mcg of alcohol in his system.

John pleaded guilty to being in charge of a motor vehicle while above the legal alcohol limit. He was represented by solicitor Alaw Harries, who said her client accepted full responsibility.

“It was a cold night and he made the poor decision to get in the vehicle, turn the heating on and fall asleep,” she said.

Ms Harries described John as a “reliable and dedicated” plumber and warned that a disqualification would have serious consequences for his work and others who rely on him.

“A disqualification today would not only jeopardise his own employment, but also the employment of others, including an apprentice who he drives to work on a daily basis,” she said. “We have here a genuine, hard-working individual, who’s reflected on this offence and won’t place himself in this position ever again.”

John, of Priory Avenue, Haverfordwest, was fined £433 and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £173 surcharge. His licence was endorsed with ten penalty points.

JASON CALE, 40, was stopped the same day he qualified, with blood tests showing more than twice the legal cannabis limit

Just hours after passing his driving test, a Tenby man was caught driving through the town centre with more than twice the legal drug-drive limit.

Jason Cale, 40, was stopped by police at around 6:00pm on September 19 as he drove his Hyundai i20 along Upper Hill Park, Tenby. A roadside saliva test proved positive and a subsequent blood test showed 7mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2.

Appearing before Haverfordwest magistrates this week, Cale pleaded guilty to the drug-driving offence. He was represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd, who said the incident happened on the same day his client had passed his driving test.

“He’d made a big effort later in life to learn to drive and pass his test as he has a number of significant physical issues and wanted to be able to drive himself to appointments,” Mr Lloyd said. “But the very same day that he passed his test, this happened.”

The court heard Cale suffers from a debilitating joint condition and is in constant pain.

“This was why he was taking cannabis,” Mr Lloyd added. “But I’m pleased to say he’s now taken steps to address this, and has already seen the Dyfed Drugs and Alcohol Service.”

Mr Lloyd submitted medical evidence to the magistrates in support of the mitigation.

Cale, of Upper Hill Park, Tenby, was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £48 victim surcharge.