Simon Wayt, 55, admitted possessing cocaine, ketamine, crystal meth and LSD, along with 35 knives, three axes and a shotgun cartridge

A 55-YEAR-OLD electrical engineer has admitted possessing a cocktail of illegal drugs, including cocaine, ketamine, crystal meth and LSD, along with 35 knives and three axes.

A search of Simon Wayt’s property, carried out after he told police officers he was a drug user, uncovered 2.326 grams of cocaine, 2.83 grams of crystal meth, an unspecified quantity of MDMA, 22 doses of LSD, five 2CB tablets, 21.9 grams of amphetamine, 8.32 grams of ketamine, 14.42 grams of cannabis resin, an undisclosed quantity of THC edibles, and five tablets of the psychedelic drug methallyscaline.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard this week that Wayt was stopped by officers in Green Park, Pentlepoir, because of the manner of his driving.

A search of his vehicle uncovered nine throwing knives, 26 further knives and three axes. A further search of his home also revealed a shotgun cartridge, despite Wayt not holding a firearms certificate. The drugs were also found at the property.

Wayt, of Wentworth Crescent, Mayals, Swansea, pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing an offensive weapon, one charge of possessing ammunition for a firearm without a certificate, and ten charges of possessing a controlled drug.

He was represented by solicitor Lucas Edwards, who said the drugs were for the defendant’s “recreational use”.

“He’s disappointed and ashamed to find himself before the courts, and these offences are definitely something which he will not repeat,” he said. “The drugs were for his own personal recreational use, but he’s not addicted to drugs in any way.”

Mr Edwards went on to describe Wayt as “an avid collector of bladed articles”.

“He’s been collecting them for 35 years, and normally keeps them in his office,” he said. “But he’d been working in Pembroke Dock for a period of time and brought the knives with him to sharpen and for camping purposes. But he shouldn’t have had them on his person or inside his vehicle.”

Mr Edwards said the shotgun cartridge was a memento dating back to the 1990s, when his father kept a small number of cartridges following a firearms amnesty.

The solicitor added that Wayt, a qualified mechanical and electrical engineer, is currently unemployed as a result of the offences.

After considering the facts, magistrates sentenced Wayt to four months in custody, suspended for 11 months. He was also ordered to complete ten rehabilitation activity requirement days to address his drug use.

A forfeiture and destruction order was imposed on the bladed articles and the drugs. Wayt was also ordered to pay a £154 surcharge.

Upgrade at Bridge Innovation Centre aims to give local businesses faster, more reliable and scalable digital infrastructure

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL and Welsh broadband provider Ogi have invested in a major full fibre upgrade at Pembroke Dock’s Bridge Innovation Centre, in a move aimed at supporting business growth and strengthening the county’s digital infrastructure.

The project, announced under embargo until Thursday (Apr 16), replaces the site’s ageing legacy connection with a dedicated business-grade full fibre network designed to meet the needs of modern companies.

A high-capacity symmetrical core connection has been installed, supported by a secondary fibre route to improve resilience. The upgrade is intended to give businesses based at the centre the reliability and capacity they increasingly need as standard.

Ogi engineers said that the job took around two and a half weeks, and represented a major project for the installation team.

Full fibre has also been extended throughout the building, with each office now able to access its own dedicated connection. This means businesses can increase their internet speeds as they expand, without the need for further building work or disruption.

Ogi Chief Executive Officer Sally-Anne Skinner said: “Digital infrastructure shouldn’t be something businesses have to worry about. It needs to be dependable, flexible and ready to grow when they are. That’s exactly what we’ve put in place here.”

The new network has also been built with security and resilience in mind. Managed firewall protection, intelligent traffic management and round-the-clock monitoring have been introduced to help keep services secure and performing effectively, while battery backup systems will protect critical equipment during power interruptions.

Shared spaces within the Innovation Centre have also benefited from improved connectivity, with new high-performance WiFi designed to cope with busy working days, events and collaborative use throughout the building.

Pembrokeshire County Council said the investment is about more than simply improving internet speeds. It is also intended to ensure the Bridge Innovation Centre continues to meet the changing needs of businesses at different stages of development.

Peter Lord, the council’s Principal Officer for Business Development, said: “What businesses tell us they value most is confidence. They want to know the infrastructure around them won’t limit their plans – and this investment gives them that reassurance.”

The council believes the upgrade will help strengthen Pembrokeshire’s appeal as a base for ambitious firms looking to grow sustainably while remaining rooted in the local area.

Sally-Anne added: “When the right infrastructure is already in place, it makes staying and growing locally a much easier decision. That’s how you support long-term economic growth – by giving businesses what they need from day one.”

Ogi said the installation forms part of a wider programme to support business communities across Wales through full fibre networks and managed services designed for long-term use in real working environments.

Photo caption:

Bridge Innovation Centre in Pembroke Dock has received a major full fibre connectivity upgrade (Pic: Supplied).

Henry Tufnell backs DARC radar scheme as First Minister calls for plans to be halted over concerns about the USA

A LABOUR split has emerged over the proposed Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability project at Brawdy, with Henry Tufnell MP publicly backing the scheme after First Minister Eluned Morgan called for it to be paused.

Mr Tufnell said the DARC project could be a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” for Pembrokeshire, after Ms Morgan argued that the AUKUS-linked development should be halted while the United States is proving to be an unreliable ally.

The proposed Ministry of Defence scheme would see 27 large parabolic radar dishes installed at Cawdor Barracks, Brawdy, to track satellites and space debris in high Earth orbit. The Pembrokeshire site would form part of a wider joint programme involving the UK, the USA and Australia.

Ms Morgan, who is Labour’s candidate for Ceredigion Penfro as well as First Minister, had said the plan should be paused in light of what she described as Donald Trump’s hostility towards the UK and concerns over American foreign policy.

But Mr Tufnell, the Labour MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, has now struck a very different tone, saying the scheme could bring jobs, investment and long-term benefits to the county.

In a statement issued on Tuesday (Apr 15), he said: “I’m concerned that the First Minister appears to not want the local jobs and economic growth on a project that is unlikely to be operational until after the Trump administration.”

He added: “Our community here in Pembrokeshire has always played a pivotal role in the UK’s defence and the DARC project represents the next chapter in our proud heritage.”

Mr Tufnell said he was working closely with the MoD to make sure local views were taken into account as the plans move forward.

He said: “I am working closely with MoD officials to ensure that the views and concerns of local residents are fully heard and addressed. It is vital that any environmental and public health concerns are addressed, and the project must deliver genuine, tangible benefits for local workers and the wider community.”

The U.K. Government is resolute on using defence to keep our country safe and revitalise the industrial heartlands of our United Kingdom.

He also backed the wider UK Government position on defence investment, adding: “The UK Government is resolute on using defence to keep our country safe and revitalise the industrial heartlands of our United Kingdom.”

The differing positions expose a clear divide within Labour over one of the most significant proposed developments in Pembrokeshire in recent years.

The pre-application consultation on the Brawdy scheme has now ended, with the Ministry of Defence expected to submit a formal planning application to Pembrokeshire County Council.