A man who broke into a Milford Haven convenience store and stole thousands of pounds worth of goods has avoided immediate custody.

A MAN has been sentenced for breaking into the One Stop Shop, Milford Haven, and stealing approximately £2,000 worth of items.

Mark Brummitt, 46, broke a glass door at the shop on February 24 and proceeded to steal a number of items including vapes and cigarettes.

Appearing before Haverfordwest magistrates via a video link from Swansea Prison where he has been remanded in custody, Brummitt pleaded guilty to burglary.

He was represented in court by Jess Hill who said that Brummitt had stopped drinking alcohol some 12 months prior to the offence.

“He has a poor relationship with alcohol and around a year ago, he tried to stop drinking,” she said.

“But earlier that day he heard upsetting news that his grandson had been admitted to hospital which caused him to relapse back to alcohol. As a result, he wasn’t thinking clearly, and this led to the offence.”

Jess Hill said that Brummitt, of Robert Street, Milford Haven, regrets his actions and also the impact his behaviour has had on the owner of the shop.

He was sentenced to eight months in custody suspended for 18 months, during which he must carry out 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and a 120-day alcohol abstinence monitoring programme. He was ordered to pay £500 compensation to One Stop Shop, Milford Haven, a £187 court surcharge and £150 costs.

A woman is to stand trial after allegedly driving through Fishguard town centre with cocaine levels far above the legal limit.

A CRUNDALE woman is to appear before magistrates for trial accused of driving through Fishguard town centre with cocaine and benzylecgonine in her system.

Sian Brazendale, 47, was stopped by officers on October 31, 2025, as she drove her grey Peugeot through West Street, Fishguard.

“Officers were concerned about the manner of her driving,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

A roadside breath test proved positive, however further tests carried out at the police station gave negative alcohol readings.

“Because of the officers’ concerns, a drugs swipe was carried out which proved positive while further blood tests gave a cocaine reading of 67 mcg and a benzoylecgonine reading of 800 mcg,” said Linda Baker.

The specified legal limits are 10 and 50 respectively.

Brazendale, of Dingle Lane, Haverfordwest denied both charges of drug driving.

Her trial will take place at Haverfordwest magistrates on June 1 and Brazendale was released on unconditional bail.

A MAN from Llandysul has pleaded guilty to food safety offences following an investigation into the illegal trade of so-called “smokies”.

Carmello Gale, aged 71, admitted the offences at Isleworth Crown Court after an investigation by the Food Standards Agency’s National Food Crime Unit.

Gale pleaded guilty to conspiring to place unsafe food on the market, specifically “smokie” meat, in breach of food safety regulations and the Criminal Law Act.

He was granted bail ahead of sentencing, which will take place at a later date.

“Smokies” refers to skin-on sheep meat produced by singeing the fleece off an unskinned carcass, giving it a distinctive colour and smell. The process is illegal in the UK and is often carried out in unapproved premises that may not meet basic hygiene standards.

Neil Castle, Deputy Head of the National Food Crime Unit, said: “Carmello Gale is considered a significant figure in the illegal smokies trade, with the investigation uncovering his involvement in the wide-scale distribution of smokies across the UK.

“This guilty plea reflects the work of everyone involved in this investigation. I would like to thank Ceredigion County Council, Dyfed-Powys Police, Southwark Council, Swansea Council, and the Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit for their support.

“The NFCU will not stop in its efforts to identify, investigate and bring to justice those who seek to exploit our food system.”

The agency is urging anyone with concerns about food fraud or illegal “smokies” production to report it to their local Trading Standards team or contact the unit confidentially.