Crime

Marloes woman nearly three times drink-drive limit after being stopped in Yorkshire

Published

5 months ago

February 11, 2026

Witness saw pickup blocking house before police were called

A 56-YEAR-OLD woman from Marloes has admitted drink-driving after being found almost three times over the legal limit while behind the wheel of her pickup truck.

Magistrates sitting at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that Elizabeth Miles had been seen driving her Isuzu vehicle down a cul-de-sac in Yorkshire at around 6:00pm on December 10.

Prosecutor Nia James said there were footpaths on both sides of the road and residents quickly became concerned about her behaviour.

“A lady who lived in the street noticed the defendant’s car blocking the front of her house,” she told the court.

“She went up to the defendant to ask if she was ok, and the defendant replied no, she was ‘b*******’ and was driving back to Wales.”

After smelling alcohol coming from inside the vehicle, the witness returned home and contacted police.

While on the phone, she could see Miles continuing to manoeuvre the pickup backwards and forwards before mounting the kerb. Officers asked the caller to try to remove the keys for safety reasons.

“Elizabeth Miles handed the keys over without question,” said Ms James. “But it was obvious she was having difficulty seeing her phone.”

When officers arrived, they found an empty wine bottle in the vehicle’s footwell. Miles was described as extremely unsteady on her feet, with slurred speech.

Miles, of East End, Marloes, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

Her barrister, Caitlin Jones KC, told magistrates that earlier that day Miles had been visiting her mother at a care home near Hull and had not intended to attempt the full journey back to Wales.

“She planned to stop at a service station hotel,” she said. “She’s deeply ashamed and embarrassed to come before you today, and is grateful nobody was hurt. She understands the outcome could have been much worse.”

Magistrates disqualified Miles from driving for two years. She was fined £1,846 and ordered to pay a £738 court surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Scaffolder banned after cannabis smell reported from van

Published

8 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

8 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

9 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.