News

007 smoke screen results in community order

Published

10 years ago

February 17, 2016

62-YEAR-OLD Simon Chaplin from Hebron, the speeding driver who deployed a James Bond-esque smoke screen device to shake off police, appeared before Swansea Crown Court.

The defendant was convicted of causing danger to other road users by deliberating causing smoke to be omitted, driving without insurance and threatening behaviour.

When police attempted to pull Chaplin over for speeding, he deployed a device to produce colossal amounts of grey smoke from his exhaust.

The court heard that the defendant had rigged a bucket of diesel, pipes and a pump behind the passenger seat of his car to produce the smoke.

Although the officer pursuing Chaplin was not able to see his car, he was able to follow the fumes the vehicle left behind and he caught up with the defendant five miles up the road at a farmyard.

An eye-witness said that he thought that the defendant’s engine had blown because the smoke was covering both carriageways. He said that he had to slow to five miles an hour due to the smoke.

Chaplin said that he “sort of panicked” when he saw the officer activate his blue flashing light. He told the court that he had borrowed the smoke device, which was used to kill moles, from a neighbour.

Defending him, John Hipkin said that Chaplin was not an unpleasant individual and that he had “eccentricities.”

The judge said: “You caused smoke to be emitted on a village road in such circumstances that any reasonable person would know it was dangerous. During pursuit, you activated a contraption which was dangerous and caused smoke to be emitted from the exhaust.”

He added that it was a very “unusual” circumstance in which Chaplin found himself before the court and stated that he did not want to see the defendant there again.

Chaplin was sentenced to a community order, he will have to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, and six points were added to his licence.

Crime

Police appeal after man injured in St Davids incident

Published

21 minutes ago

February 18, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE are appealing for witnesses following an incident in St Davids which left one man injured.

The incident happened in Nun Street at around 11:10am on Tuesday, December 30. The injured man was taken to hospital for treatment.

Officers confirmed that a man has been arrested on suspicion of assault in connection with the incident.

Police are now asking anyone with information, dash cam footage, or CCTV that could assist the investigation to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online at:
https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us-beta/contact-us/

Alternatively, email [email protected], send a direct message via social media, or call 101 quoting reference DP20251230094.

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.

Crime

Sexual assault allegation to be tried

Published

1 hour ago

February 18, 2026

Tamsin Mathias

Accused granted conditional bail

A SEXUAL assault allegation has been listed for trial following a hearing before magistrates.

David Fletcher, 45, of Chestnut Way, Mount Estate, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, appeared before magistrates in Llanelli on Thursday (Feb 12) charged with sexual assault, contrary to section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The charge alleges that on March 16, 2025, at Johnston, Pembrokeshire, he intentionally touched a woman aged 16 or over and that the touching was sexual when she did not consent and he did not reasonably believe that she was consenting.

The matter was adjourned for trial and Fletcher was remanded on conditional bail.

The trial is listed for March 9, 2026 at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court. Bail conditions prohibit him from entering a specified premises in Johnston, from contacting directly or indirectly the complainant or any prosecution witnesses, and from posting any information relating to the investigation on social media. The conditions were imposed to prevent further offending and to prevent interference with witnesses or obstruction of justice.

Crime

Drink drive allegation denied

Published

2 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Tamsin Mathias

Trial date fixed by magistrates

A MOTORIST has denied a drink-driving allegation when the case came before magistrates.

Michael Miles, 39, of Milford Road, Johnston, Haverfordwest, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court charged with driving a motor vehicle when the alcohol level was above the prescribed limit.

The court heard that on January 24, 2026, it is alleged that Miles drove a Ford Transit on the A477 at Jordanston after consuming so much alcohol, that the proportion in his breath was 52 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35.

Miles entered a not guilty plea on February 10, 2026.

The matter was adjourned for trial on May 21 at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court. He was remanded on unconditional bail.