A HAVERFORDWEST machine operator has been disqualified from driving for three years after admitting his third drink-driving offence.

Gareth James, 40, was stopped by officers on June 14 because of the speed at which he was driving his black Hyundai Tucson along Vine Road in Johnston.

“There was a strong smell of intoxicants and the defendant’s face was very red,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

Subsequent breathalyser tests showed James had 53mcg of alcohol in his breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

The court heard that James had two previous drink-driving convictions, imposed in 2009 and 2019.

This week he pleaded guilty to drink-driving and was represented in court by solicitor Michael Kelleher.

Mr Kelleher told the Bench that although James works as a machine operator in Haverfordwest, he lives in Merthyr Tydfil.

“This offence happened soon after he began his new job,” he said.

“He had gone out with his new work colleagues and made the dreadful decision to drive. He thought he was okay, and he co-operated fully with the police.”

Probation officer Julie Norman said James had gone out with work colleagues before making a decision he now clearly regretted.

In addition to the three-year driving ban, James was fined £908 and ordered to pay a £363 court surcharge and £85 costs.

A HAVERFORDWEST maintenance mechanic has been banned from the roads for three years after admitting driving through the town centre while over the drug-drive limit.

Eric Rees, 37, was stopped by officers just before 10am on February 5 as he drove his Honda Civic along Withybush Road in Haverfordwest.

“He was driving too fast, so he was stopped,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

As Rees provided police with a roadside drugs wipe, he told officers he had taken cocaine the previous Saturday, as well as cannabis the previous evening.

Subsequent blood tests showed he had 172mcg of the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

Other drugs were also detected, but these were below the legal limit.

Rees pleaded guilty to drug-driving and was represented in court by solicitor Michael Kelleher.

“He had taken the cocaine two days before driving and did not think he would still be over the limit,” Mr Kelleher told the court.

Probation officer Julie Norman said Rees had consumed cocaine during the weekend before the offence.

“He had obviously taken a lot, as it was still in his system,” she said.

The court also heard that Rees admitted being a daily cannabis user, saying it helped him deal with stress following many years in the army.

Rees, of Church Lane, Haverfordwest, was disqualified from driving for three years, as this was his second drug-drive offence within ten years.

He was also made subject to a 12-month community order, during which he must complete ten rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Magistrates fined him £300 and ordered him to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs.

A 40-YEAR-OLD man has admitted stealing beer and food worth £45 from the Nisa store in Johnston.

Steven O’Sullivan, formerly of Fishguard but currently of no fixed abode, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday via video link from Swansea Prison.

The court heard that on June 21, O’Sullivan entered the store, took groceries from the shelves and left without making any attempt to pay. The stolen items included bread and alcohol.

O’Sullivan pleaded guilty to theft and was represented in court by Tom Lloyd.

“This was a compulsive act, where he entered the shop and took the items,” Mr Lloyd told magistrates.

O’Sullivan, who is currently serving a custodial sentence for other offences, was ordered to pay £45 compensation to Nisa.

No fine, court costs or surcharge were imposed.