Motorist was over the legal limit after watching rugby, court told

A TEENAGE motorist has been disqualified from driving after being involved in a collision while over the legal drink-driving limit.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that police were called to Cox Hill, Narberth, on the evening of Friday (Oct 25) following reports of a single-vehicle collision.

Officers attending the scene found a silver Peugeot being driven by Jake Leavitt, aged 18, with a male passenger also in the vehicle.

When spoken to by officers, Leavitt admitted he had been the driver and provided a positive roadside breath test. He was taken to hospital for examination following the collision, where a subsequent blood test revealed 90 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.

Leavitt, of Tymawr, Llangolman, pleaded guilty to the drink-driving offence. He was represented by Fenn Richards, who asked the court to take her client’s age and immaturity into account when passing sentence.

Ms Richards told District Judge Mark Layton that Leavitt had been watching a rugby match before driving home and believed he was not over the legal limit.

She said: “He hasn’t driven since the incident and is absolutely devastated to be losing his clean character today.”

The court was also told that Leavitt is currently studying to become an electrician at Pembrokeshire College.

Sentencing the defendant, District Judge Layton disqualified him from driving for twelve months and fined him £230. He was also ordered to pay a £92 court surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.

“It may be down to immaturity,” the judge said, “but you should be mature enough to understand that drink-driving is not the thing to do.”

Defamatory posters placed in public and malicious emails sent to GP and council, court told

A COURT has heard how a 79-year-old Pembrokeshire man subjected his former long-term partner to a sustained stalking campaign that included distributing defamatory posters about her in public places.

Michael Lockheart appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week, where he pleaded guilty to stalking the woman between July 27 and September 10, 2025. The case was heard by District Judge Mark Layton.

The court was told that during the period in question Lockheart repeatedly sent the victim unwanted emails despite being told to stop, placed defamatory posters in public locations, and sent malicious correspondence about her to both her GP and the local authority.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan said the defendant and the victim had been in a relationship for twelve years, but it ended when the woman felt overwhelmed by his behaviour and wanted to be left alone.

“He wouldn’t allow her to do that,” she said. “He then began putting messages up claiming she was a serious sex cheat and a predator, repeating these messages over and over again.

“Some of these posters were seen by the victim’s ten-year-old granddaughter.”

The court heard that Lockheart’s actions had a severe and lasting impact on the victim’s mental health.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, she said: “Since he started contacting me by text messages and putting posters up in public places, I’m feeling anxious and have started having panic attacks in my own home.

“This makes me feel isolated. I’m having trouble sleeping and suffer from nightmares. It’s had a profound effect on my mental health.”

The prosecution said the woman is now considering selling her home as a result of her anxiety and has already changed all of the locks at the property.

Lockheart, of Daisy Lane, Haverfordwest, was represented by defence solicitor David Wheale.

“All of a sudden, their communication ended, but he foolishly pursued the communication,” Mr Wheale told the court. “They’ve broken up in the past, and he believed this was the situation again on this occasion.”

District Judge Mark Layton adjourned sentencing to allow a probation report to be prepared.

Lockheart was released on conditional bail. The conditions include not contacting the victim directly or indirectly and not approaching any address at which she resides.

Offenders struck holiday lets, family homes and elderly residents

TWO men have been jailed after a wave of burglaries across Pembrokeshire and south Wales last autumn, with homes targeted in coastal villages and residential streets.

Darren Inder, aged 46, and Christopher Welke, aged 43, appeared before Swansea Crown Court for sentencing following offences committed between September and October.

The court heard that Inder carried out a series of break-ins in Pembrokeshire, including burglaries in Nolton Haven on the night of October 18. During one incident, a holiday cottage was entered while guests were staying there, with torches and £200 stolen. The same night, a nearby farmhouse was broken into, where cash, coffee and milk were taken.

Inder later burgled another Nolton Haven property, stealing food items, a knife and a backpack, before striking again in Broad Haven on October 24, where cash was taken from a home.

Both defendants were also involved in burglaries in Dynevor Avenue, Neath, during the early hours of October 4. One homeowner was woken by police shortly after 3:00am after officers noticed signs of a break-in. Doorbell camera footage showed the two men leaving the property.

In a separate incident nearby, a neighbour discovered their Fiat Panda had been stolen from the driveway. Footage captured Welke attempting to avoid a doorbell camera before entering the vehicle. Items taken during the burglary included a purse, a bank card and two collectable pound coins. Footprint evidence from the address and the recovered vehicle linked Welke to the offence.

The court was told that Inder’s offending also included a burglary at a garage in Church Crescent, Baglan, where lip filler products worth around £8,000 were stolen, as well as cigarettes and a lighter taken from an address in Cae Canol. He also burgled two elderly residents at Traherne Court, Neath, on October 4.

Prosecutor Alycia Carpanini outlined the pattern of offending, describing it as persistent and escalating.

Inder, of Chamberlain Road, Neath, admitted 11 burglary offences. He has 26 previous convictions for 92 offences, the majority relating to theft and dishonesty. His barrister, James McKenna, said Inder had made full admissions in interview but had relapsed into Class A drug use, which had fuelled his behaviour.

Welke, of Southall Avenue, Skewen, pleaded guilty to two burglaries and the theft of a motor vehicle. He has 91 previous convictions for 229 offences, including 148 for dishonesty. His defence said longstanding substance misuse problems had led to a rapid decline, including periods of homelessness.

Inder was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison. Welke received a sentence of two years and three months.

Cover image:

Darren Inder and Christopher Welke (Pic: Dyfed-Powys Police).