POLICE in Haverfordwest, Fishguard and St Davids are reminding residents that privately owned e-scooters cannot legally be used on roads, pavements or other public spaces.

E-scooters are treated as motor vehicles under road traffic law. This means riders would need to meet the same legal requirements as other motorists, including having a valid licence, insurance and tax.

However, because privately owned e-scooters cannot currently be insured for use on public roads, they cannot legally be ridden in public places. They may only be used on private land, with the permission of the landowner.

Anyone caught riding an e-scooter illegally could face a fixed penalty notice, including a £300 fine and six penalty points for riding without insurance. Riders may also face a fine of up to £100 and three to six penalty points for riding without the correct licence.

Police say riders may also be committing further offences if they are caught riding on pavements, using a mobile phone while riding, going through red lights, or riding while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The penalties for drink or drug riding are treated in the same way as if a person was driving a car, and could include a court-imposed fine, a driving ban or imprisonment.

Officers are urging parents and young people to understand the rules before buying or using an e-scooter.

OFFICERS investigating an alleged sexual assault in Carmarthen are appealing for the public’s help to identify a person who may have information.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the incident happened in front of F.Hinds jewellers on Lammas Street at around 4pm on Tuesday, May 12.

Investigating officers have carried out a number of enquiries and are now asking for assistance in identifying the person pictured.

Police stressed that the person may have information that could help the investigation.

Anyone who is the person pictured, or who knows who they are, is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online at https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.

Quote reference: 26000377639

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.