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Snakes, marine life and egg races

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Screen Shot 2016-04-18 at 09.16.45OVER THE EASTER weekend Sea Trust celebrated the holidays by showcasing a diverse mix of marine wildlife and exotic creatures.

For Easter Sunday Sea trust organised another of their increasingly popular Strumble Head porpoise watches which, despite the weather, was attended by many wishing to get a sight of some of the rich marine life that the north coastline has to offer.

Cliff Benson, Sea Trust director said: “Our Sea Trust Strumble porpoise watch was hit by hail, thunderstorms, rain and gales in the morning”

None the less and amazingly, around forty brave souls arrived on Sunday afternoon to join the watch and the sun came out to reward us!” Cliff said.

“In recent years several different species of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) as well as porpoises have been recorded from Strumble including Risso’s, Common and Bottlenose Dolphins.

“Also Minke, Fin, Humpback and Killer Whales. On our New Year’s watch, Risso’s dolphins and an otter joined the resident porpoises giving an incredible show.”

The large gathering saw porpoises, a couple of Grey Seals and some nice views from some Gannets, Cormorants and other seabirds.

Cliff said: “Our volunteers were there, helping people to spot things and Ken Barnett was giving handy photographic hints and getting shots of the porpoises that I missed.”

As well as the porpoise watch Sea Trust also set up a ‘Strumble Egg Rolling competition’ Which Cliff said: “was a pretty exclusive affair but Jessica was the champion and also had the prettiest egg. Lizzie came a close second with several jewel like eggs!”

The eggs were rolled down the hill in a race to see who could get to the bottom quickest, however not all of them made it to the bottom of the hill as Cliff’s Labrador Zorro joined in, chomping two of the eggs mid roll!

After Zorro was finally persuaded to leave them alone and Jessica made a record breaking roll, clinching her title as ‘Strumble Egg Roller 2016’.

Sea Trust followed up Sunday’s porpoise watch at by hosting Russ and Ginny of Silent World 2U at the Goodwick Ocean Lab on Easter Monday.

About thirty children, Mums, Dads, Grannies and Granddads had a great morning learning about and handling a mixture of incredible and exotic creatures.

These included Royal Pythons, King Snakes and Milk snakes as well as stick insects and beautiful Chameleons from Madagascar.

Cliff explained: “We love having Russ and Ginny here because it’s another way of opening people’s eyes to the wonders of nature. Once people have handled these reptiles they see they are fascinating not slimy or scary! Russ and Ginny are real experts and incredibly enthusiastic and everybody had a great time!”

 

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Crime

Pembroke Dock driver avoided jail after drug-drive crash

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Court heard she had cocaine metabolite and cannabis above legal limits

A DOCK motorist has narrowly avoided imprisonment after driving into a parked vehicle with what the Crown described as “a cocktail of drugs” in her system.

Stacey Wootton, 30, was seen hitting a parked vehicle the week before Christmas as she drove her Volkswagen Golf along Military Road in Pennar.

“She was seen by a police officer and didn’t seem aware of what was going on,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

“She appeared to be drugged up and when she got out of the car, she was staggering. She was clearly heavily influenced by the drugs and could hardly speak.”

The officer’s suspicions were confirmed when blood tests carried out at the police station showed that Wootton had 240mcg of the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine in her system and 3mg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol. The legal limits are 50 and 2 respectively.

Traces of ketamine and diazepam were also discovered in her blood, although these were below the legal threshold.

Wootton, of Military Road, Pennar, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to two charges of drug driving.

Given the seriousness of the offences, District Judge Mark Layton requested an all-options probation report prior to sentencing.

“The offence stems from the defendant’s drug misuse issues as a result of the breakdown of her five-year relationship,” said probation officer Julie Norman. “It’s appropriate that some rehabilitation is offered to her to help her through her problem.”

After considering the probation report, District Judge Layton sentenced Wootton to eight weeks in custody, suspended for 18 months. During this time she must carry out 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

A 12-month foreign travel prohibition requirement was imposed on her, and she was disqualified from driving for a total of five years. The defendant must also pay a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.

 

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Crime

Dinas Cross man jailed over shop thefts

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Items stolen from Co-op and Tesco stores in North Pembrokeshire

A PROLIFIC shoplifter has been sentenced after being caught stealing items from three food stores in North Pembrokeshire.

The first offence took place on November 22, 2025, when 40-year-old William Lewis walked out of the Co-op supermarket in Fishguard with a four-pack of Peroni beer, valued at £25, without making any attempt to pay.

The following day, he returned to the Co-op and once again helped himself to two more four-packs of Peroni, together with a bottle of red wine, valued at £20.50.

The third offence took place on February 18, 2026, when Lewis was seen walking out of the Tesco supermarket in Goodwick with a shopping trolley full of numerous food items. The value of the stolen goods is unknown.

This week Lewis, of Parc Brynach, Dinas Cross, pleaded guilty to all three theft charges when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.

He was sentenced to six weeks in prison and ordered to pay £45.50 compensation to the Co-op supermarket and £60 compensation to Tesco. He must also pay a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.

 

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Crime

Monkton man fined after missing drugs assessment

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Court told defendant did not appreciate failure to attend was a criminal offence

A MONKTON man has been sentenced for failing to attend an initial drugs assessment after a previous sample showed he had cocaine in his system.

Luke Probert, 37, of Long Meadow, Adams Road, Monkton, was requested to attend the assessment on February 19 to establish whether he was dependent on the Class A drug.

But his failure to show up resulted in his appearance before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week, where he pleaded guilty to the offence.

He was represented in court by solicitor Alaw Harries, who said the defendant “didn’t appreciate this was a criminal offence”.

“He’s extremely apologetic,” she said.

Probert was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £32 surcharge.

 

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