Crime

Disqualified driver who caused A40 crash broke down in tears in court

Published

3 years ago

May 17, 2022

A BANNED driver who caused a multi-vehicle pile-up on the A40 on Saturday (May 14) said in court on Monday that he had no recollection of what happened.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that Matthew Turner, of Llys-yr Onnen, Wolfscastle was seen by witnesses driving extremely fast that morning, as he drove from Haverfordwest towards his home village.

Turner, age 33, pleaded guilty dangerous driving and to three additional charges of driving without insurance, driving whilst disqualified and possessing 1g of cannabis. An additional charge of the aggravated taking of a vehicle without the owner’s consent was withdrawn.

The court heard that as he flew past Vincent Davies department store in his girlfriend’s Ford EcoSport, the driver of the vehicle travelling behind him watched him cross over the middle white lines in the road repeatedly, and said he was overtaking vehicles dangerously.

He hit an on-coming vehicle, spun around, and smashed into another vehicle just a little further up the road.

The accident caused the main road to be closed for several hours, causing traffic chaos on the back lanes around the area.

The CPS solicitor, Mr Davies, said that the driver of one of the vehicles which had been hit said that “it was as if an explosion had gone off.”

The defendant who works as a painter and decorator, managed to stumble out of his partner’s wrecked car and said to witnesses: “My wife has gone to check the kids. It’s just an accident. These things just happen.”

Representing the defendant, Mr Michael Kelleher said his client has “no real recollection” of what happened.

“Quite clearly this matter is a serious one and we’re quite fortunate there are no serious or lasting injuries as a result of this incident” he added.

The matter was then adjourned for a pre-sentence report from the Probation Service.

Turner, who broke down and was in tears during the hearing, was released on conditional bail, the conditions being that he resides at his parents’ address in Haverfordwest and that he makes no contact with his partner.

An interim driving disqualification has also been imposed.

Crime

Police issue update following incident at Tenby multi-storey

Published

2 days ago

January 3, 2025

Luke Sinclair

Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed this morning that they are investigating a collision on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park in Tenby, at around 4pm on Thursday, January 2.

The collision, police said, involved a grey Nissan Qashqai and a young child.

The child remains in a critical condition in hospital.

The family are being supported by specially trained officers.

One man, aged 33, has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury through dangerous driving, drink driving, and drug driving. He remains in police custody.

Police issued a statement saying: “This is a tragic incident and is a live investigation.

“We ask that you do not speculate the circumstances and allow our officers to carry out their enquiries.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage that could help officers with their investigation is asked to report it to us, either online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

Quote reference 25*6238”

Crime

Driver wasn’t aware he was over the cannabis drug-drive limit

Published

2 days ago

January 3, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A MILFORD HAVEN motorist has been banned from driving after being caught travelling ‘at speed’ along Dale Road, Haverfordwest, after consuming cannabis.

John Lewis, 30, was followed by police officers as he travelled along the Dale Road on June 24, 2024.

“The officers believed the car was travelling at speed, and when they spoke to the driver, who was identified as the defendant, he said he’d taken cannabis the evening before,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan when Lewis appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates this week.

Blood tests carried out at the police station confirmed the defendant had 3.7 mcg of Delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The prescribed legal limit is 2.

Lewis, of Coombs Drive, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to driving over the legal drugs limit. He was represented in court by solicitor Tom Lloyd.

“If he had been aware that he was over the limit that day, he’d never have driven,” he said.

Lewis, who has no previous convictions, was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was fined £300 and ordered to pay a £120 court surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Shoplifter’s solicitor says he will ‘get clean’ whilst in custody

Published

2 days ago

January 3, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

HAVERFORDWEST shoplifter Asa Wandelt has appeared before magistrates yet again after CCTV footage showed him stealing £17 worth of food and drink from the Cooperative store in Carmarthen.

Appearing before Haverfordwest magistrates this week via a video link from Parc Prison, Bridgend, where he is serving a custodial sentence for previous convictions, Wandelt, 36, pleaded guilty to his latest shoplifting offence.

“He’s making the most of his time in custody by getting clean and starting to sort himself out,” said his solicitor, Tom Lloyd.

Wandelt, of Harrier Road, Haverfordwest, was fined £40 and ordered to pay £17 compensation to the Cooperative store and a £16 court surcharge.