News

Letterston: 81-year-old lady remanded into custody for too many 999 calls

Published

7 years ago

June 18, 2019

AN 81-year-old lady will be kept in custody until her trial on July 15.

Beryl Billington, of Letterston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday, June 18, after police had picked her up from her home.

The pensioner had appeared in Llanelli Magistrates Court on Saturday (Jun 15) and pleaded not guilty to breaching a criminal behaviour order.

One of the conditions of her order states that she should not phone the emergency services unless it was an emergency.

In giving grounds for keeping Mrs. Billington in custody, prosecutor Mr Abul Hussain said the decision was ‘not one he would really make given the circumstances’ but added their were substantial grounds to believe she would offend again.

Mrs. Billington had been convicted in her absence on May 23 and has also committed other offences whilst on bail.

Defending, Peter Jones said that his client had said she had booked a taxi to come to court but that it hadn’t turned up.

He also said that if she was given bail she would be going to her home address and that she could be given written and verbal reminders as to the trial date.

Magistrates remanded her in custody until the trial on July 15 on the grounds that they feared she would not attend and that she may commit other offences.

Crime

Drink-driver narrowly avoided collision in town centre

Published

2 minutes ago

February 4, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Motorist almost three times over legal limit

A DRINK-driver narrowly avoided crashing into another vehicle while almost three times over the legal alcohol limit, a court has heard.

Nathan Lloyd, 33, was seen driving a Nissan X-Trail in Haverfordwest in the early hours of December 20 without headlights.

Police followed the vehicle, which narrowly missed a car and struck a kerb before being stopped.

Lloyd, of Adams Drive, Narberth, recorded a breath reading of 97 micrograms of alcohol, nearly three times the legal limit.

He was disqualified from driving for two years and given a 12-month community order requiring 80 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation days. He was ordered to pay £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Drug-driving linked to paddleboard tragedy anniversary

Published

3 minutes ago

February 4, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Court hears woman turned to cocaine to cope

A WOMAN struggling with the anniversary of the Haverfordwest paddleboard tragedy turned to cocaine to cope, a court heard.

Vicki McKinwen, 53, was stopped by police while driving a Volvo V70 in Milford Haven and later found to have 363 micrograms of benzoylecgonine in her system, well above the legal limit.

Her solicitor Jess Hill said McKinwen had been directly affected by the tragedy and her mental health deteriorates around the anniversary.

“She now understands the consequences and never wants to use drugs again,” she added.

McKinwen, of The Square, Hubberston Road, Milford Haven, was banned from driving for 12 months. She was fined £138 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £55 surcharge.