News

‘Medicinal’ cannabis user in court

Published

11 years ago

March 19, 2015

A PEMBROKE woman pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing cannabis at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (Mar 3).

The court heard that on December 6 2014 Helen Carpasso, 50, was being spoken to by the police on an unrelated matter, when officers noticed a smell of cannabis coming from her house on Main Street. Upon searching, they found 0.3 grams of herbal cannabis, which Carpasso admitted was hers. In an interview, she said that the cannabis was for medicinal purposes, and refused to reveal where she purchased the drug from. Carpasso also told officers that she disagreed with the prohibition of cannabis, and said that she would continue to smoke it.

On January 16, officers passing Carpasso’s house on Main Street smelt cannabis. After talking to the defendant, they found 1 gram of cannabis, which she again admitted was hers. Ms Morgan added that Carpasso had several previous drug sentences, and was currently under a community order, dating back to August 2014.

Defending, Matthew Greenish said that his client was ‘caught between a rock and a hard place’. Stating that Carpasso ‘disputed what happened in the build up to the arrests but admitted possessing the drugs,’ he went on to say that the defendant suffered from fibromyalgia. He told Magistrates that prescription drugs offered insufficient relief, and caused side effects. Carpasso, a mother of five, took cannabis in order to sleep properly so she could cope better with domestic life, he said, adding that under the terms of her community order Carpasso had been regularly performing unpaid work for the Paul Sartori Foundation.

The clerk told Magistrates that Carpasso currently owed £780 in fines, which were being deducted from her benefits. Magistrates issued a two-year conditional discharge, and added the £115 costs and surcharge to her existing fines.

News

Pembroke Dock man sent to Crown Court over alleged ABH assault

Published

9 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Charge relates to incident in the town last weekend

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been sent to the Crown Court for trial after appearing before magistrates accused of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Darren Markes, aged 47, of High Street, Pembroke Dock, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard that Markes is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to the Offences Against the Person Act.

The charge relates to an alleged incident on Friday (Dec 13) in Pembroke Dock, when it is alleged that Markes assaulted a woman, causing her actual bodily harm.

No plea was entered at the hearing.

Due to the seriousness of the allegation, magistrates declined jurisdiction and ordered that the case be sent to the Crown Court for trial under the Crime and Disorder Act.

Markes was remanded on conditional bail. Conditions include:

Not contacting a witness, directly or indirectly
Reporting to Pembroke Dock police station every Wednesday between 12:00pm and 2:00pm
Living and sleeping each night at his home address

He is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Jan 16) at 9:30am for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Crime

Aberystwyth man denies criminal damage charge over Cardigan gallery window

Published

9 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Alleged incident said to have taken place on Bridge Street

AN ABERYSTWYTH man has denied a charge of criminal damage relating to an alleged incident in Cardigan.

Ricky Myers, aged 27, of Jasper House, Aberystwyth, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard that Myers is accused of criminal damage to property valued under £5,000, contrary to the Criminal Damage Act 1971.

The charge relates to an incident on Saturday (Aug 24, 2024) at Manchester House on Bridge Street, Cardigan, where it is alleged that a window at the Cardigan Gallery was damaged. The property is said to belong to Peter Austin.

Myers pleaded not guilty to the allegation.

Magistrates adjourned the case for further case management, and Myers was remanded on conditional bail, with a condition that he live and sleep each night at his home address.

He is due to return to court at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 17) at 2:00pm.

Crime

Pembroke Dock man remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on string of offences

Published

10 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Harassment charge and three assaults among cases listed for Llanelli court

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing after admitting a series of offences, including harassment and assaults.

Tony Brundrett, aged 21, of Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard Brundrett has pleaded guilty to harassment without violence, contrary to the Protection from Harassment Act. The charge alleges that between Tuesday (Sep 17) and Thursday (Oct 31) at Spring View, Pembroke Dock, he pursued a course of conduct amounting to harassment of a female, including attending her home address and contacting her by text message.

He has also admitted assault by beating against the same female, alleged to have taken place on Wednesday (May 21) at Spring View, Pembroke Dock, and a further assault by beating against a second female on Thursday (Oct 30), also at Spring View.

Magistrates were additionally told that Brundrett faces a further allegation of common assault against a third female, said to have occurred on Tuesday (Dec 9) at Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock. No plea was recorded to that matter in the register entry.

Brundrett has also pleaded guilty to a number of offences linked to an incident in Haverfordwest on Saturday (Nov 16). These include:

Aggravated vehicle taking, involving a Vauxhall Corsa, with damage caused before recovery
Using a motor vehicle without insurance
Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence
Criminal damage, involving a window belonging to Pembrokeshire County Council

He was remanded in custody, with the next hearing listed at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 31) at 10:00am.