News

School reassures parents after drugs incident

Published

12 years ago

June 2, 2014

PEMBROKE SCHOOL has been seeking to reassure families following a serious incident involving drugs at the school.

Headmaster Mr Frank Ciccotti wrote to all parents and guardians on Wednesday following seven students becoming unwell after experimenting with a legal high. Some students were treated at the scene, and others were taken to Withybush Hospital on May 14. Mr Ciccotti wrote: “I know that some parents are worried about drugs following the incident last week which had so much media attention. “I would like to reassure you that this was an isolated incident. One year 10 pupil had brought a ‘legal high’ into school to share with his group of friends at lunchtime. He bought this the previous evening in the local area, not on the school site. This group of 10 friends went to a secluded woodland area, a long way away from the school building, and shared the drug. “Unfortunately, one student had a very severe reaction to it. This was reported to us by responsible students. He was so unwell that we called for an ambulance and they in turn called the air ambulance as a precautionary measure, although ultimately it was not used to take him to hospital. “Together with all the pupils who had taken the drug, he was checked in hospital and released later that evening. All are now well. “All the pupils involved in this incident have received fixed term exclusions. This is our standard practice for the very few incidents involving drugs or alcohol on the school site. It is our way of sending a strong message that Pembroke School does not tolerate drugs and alcohol. “We also co-operate fully with the local police. For example, we recently agreed that the police could come to the school with drug sniffer dogs as a deterrent. This was not because we had an issue with drugs, as has been reported in some newspapers, but as part of a police initiative involving several local schools. It was a very effective exercise. “The police are talking to pupils in special assemblies this week, and I am emphasising to pupils that these drugs are not safe and that we take disciplinary action if ever pupils are found with drugs on site. “I hope this reassures you. Pembroke School takes a strong stand against drugs, and our PSE programme brings in expert speakers to emphasise the risks and dangers of both legal and illegal drugs.” This, however, was not the first letter to parents about drug use at the school, Mr Ciccotti wrote to parents at the beginning of April, warning that legal highs were being taken at the school. The April letter stated: “You will be aware that we are currently cooperating successfully with the police on a programme to raise awareness of illegal drugs. However, there are some problems we are currently facing with a small number of students using other substances which are not currently illegal. I am writing to make our position on these clear.” The letter added: “These are drugs which are often as dangerous as illegal drugs but which have not yet been classified. They result in the same outof- control behaviours and the same risks to students. We will treat them in the same way as illegal drugs both in relation to supply and consumption in school time.” Police attended the school to offer support and reassurance on the day after the incident. Officers carried out further inquiries at the school regarding the “psychoactive substance”. A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Although the majority were taken to Withybush Hospital as a precaution, none were admitted and soon returned to their parents. “Officers will be visited the school to provide advice, support and reassurance, and conduct further inquiries.” Police said so-called legal highs frequently contained substances that were not legal and could not be assumed safe. “These substances have not been properly tested to see how toxic they are to humans so there is no way of telling how a psychoactive drug will affect you,” added the spokesperson.

Crime

Repeat drug-driver banned for three years after Pembroke stop

Published

2 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Motorist was over legal limits for both cannabis and cocaine metabolite, court hears

A 35-YEAR-OLD Pembrokeshire motorist has been disqualified from driving after being caught behind the wheel while over the legal drug-drive limit.

Police received information on November 11 that David Webb had been driving a Kia Sorento along Buttermilk Lane, Pembroke, after taking drugs.

When stopped by officers, Webb admitted he had smoked cannabis the previous night. A roadside drug swipe tested positive, and subsequent blood analysis at the police station revealed 101 micrograms of benzoylecgonine — a cocaine metabolite — per litre of blood, along with 2.3 micrograms of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The legal limits are 50 and 2 micrograms respectively.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard this was Webb’s second drug-driving conviction, following a previous offence in October 2023.

Webb, of Strongbow Walk, Pembroke, was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order requiring him to complete 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and 100 hours of unpaid work.

He was disqualified from driving for three years and ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Driver banned after refusing breath test despite admitting drinking

Published

2 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Motorist also damaged police cell blanket after arrest, court hears

A PEMBROKESHIRE motorist has been banned from the roads after repeatedly refusing to provide a breath sample despite admitting he had been drinking alcohol.

Police were called to Glenview Avenue, Pembroke Dock, on the evening of January 3 following a report from a member of the public who was concerned about a man sitting in a car who appeared to be under the influence.

Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court that officers found the man, later identified as Sean Cook, appearing intoxicated while sitting in the vehicle.

“He appeared to be intoxicated and said he was listening to the radio,” she said.

Cook told officers he was not fit to drive because he had consumed alcohol. He was asked on three separate occasions to provide a breath test but refused each time.

The court heard he was obstructive throughout the encounter and refused to answer questions about his alcohol consumption.

Following his arrest, Cook was taken to Haverfordwest Police Station where he damaged a custody cell blanket by pulling out its stitching.

Cook, aged 58, of Glenview House, Glenview Avenue, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis and causing criminal damage.

He was disqualified from driving for 18 months and sentenced to a 12-month Community Order, which includes 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and a 120-day Alcohol Abstinence Monitoring Requirement.

He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation for the damaged blanket, a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Telecom vandal admits causing £33,000 damage to Pembroke Dock network

Published

2 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Fibre cables cut in early-morning incident that triggered major service disruption

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has admitted causing more than £33,000 worth of damage to a telecommunications network after cutting through fibre optic cables in the early hours of the morning.

Mickey Probert, aged 37, was seen lifting a drain cover in Wavell Crescent at around 3.50am on January 23, 2024, before entering an underground chamber and cutting through fibre infrastructure belonging to OGI.

Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court that Probert had accessed a telecom footway chamber and cut through micro ducting and fibre cables.

Suspicions were raised when a nearby resident was woken by loud clanging noises and saw a man acting suspiciously near green utility boxes.

“The witness saw a male bend down in front of the boxes, lift the covers and shine a headtorch towards the ground,” she said.

Following a description provided by the witness, police arrested Probert. A search of his property uncovered wire cutters, a headtorch and a woolly hat.

The total cost of the damage to the OGI network was calculated at £33,767.98.

Defence solicitor Tom Lloyd said his client was unable to explain his actions but was extremely remorseful.

“He has a lot of things going on that haven’t properly been explored,” he told the court.