News

Drunk driver who drove through scene of serious accident jailed

Published

3 years ago

March 7, 2023

A MILFORD HAVEN woman who drove through the scene of a crash, almost running into a police officer, has been jailed for 10 months.

Leanne Thomas, aged 41, appeared before Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday, March 7, having previously pleaded guilty at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court.

On January 29, there was a serious road traffic collision on Steynton Road and police had put up numerous signs and cones to indicate that the road had been closed.

Shortly before 9pm that night, Thomas drove through the closed road and an officer illuminated the blue lights on his car to indicate that she had to stop.

She did not and instead accelerated towards the officer who had come into the road and placed his arms across, shouting for her to stop. The officer then had to take evasive action to avoid being hit.

Shortly after she came to a stop at the traffic lights and was seen switching places with the passenger in the vehicle. A council worker had then placed a cone in front of their car in order to stop her from driving away.

When she was asked by officers she said that she was not the driver.

She was asked to do a roadside breath test and the reading was 48, the legal limit being 35.

Thomas was taken to Haverfordwest Police Station but she did not provide a sample in the required time.

The Judge said that the officer should be commended for his steps in attempting to stop the vehicle and asked if her driving through the debris had affected the course of the investigation. There was no indication that it had.

He went on to say that Thomas had ‘ignored a clear warning’ and that she had tried to ‘evade responsibility’ by switching seats.

Defending, Miss George said that Thomas did appreciate the seriousness of the offence and that her remorse was genuine.

She argued that any sentence should be suspended given Thomas’ mental health and her steps to help address those issues.

In sentencing, the Judge said that the offence of dangerous driving was the most serious and added the other offences were aggravating features.

He said that Thomas had a ‘very poor driving record’ and that the potential consequences of her actions were ‘unthinkable’.

Thomas was sentened to 10 months in prison for the dangerous driving offence and a further two months will run alongside for the offence of failing to provide a specimen.

No separare penalties were given for the offences of driving without a licence, driving without insurance and failing to stop.

She was also disqualified from driving for 2 years and five months, which takes into account her release date. Thomas will also have to pay a victim surcharge of £187.

News

Kurtz calls on Labour MPs to back release of Mandelson papers

Published

5 minutes ago

February 4, 2026

Staff Writer

Opposition motion follows Epstein-linked document disclosures

A SENEDD Member has called on Labour MPs to support a Conservative Opposition Day Motion demanding the release of papers linked to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as the UK Ambassador to the United States.

Samuel Kurtz said the motion follows the publication of new files and photographs involving Lord Mandelson, which were released as part of a United States investigation into the disgraced and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Speaking out, Mr Kurtz said that during Prime Minister’s Questions, the Prime Minister admitted he was aware of Peter Mandelson’s ongoing relationship with Epstein at the time of his appointment.

“That means the Prime Minister knowingly appointed Peter Mandelson to one of the most important diplomatic roles in government despite his links to Epstein,” he said. “This raises serious questions about the Prime Minister’s judgement.”

Mr Kurtz went on to accuse the Prime Minister of attempting to prevent transparency over the appointment process.

“Now, instead of being open and transparent, the Prime Minister is attempting to block the release of documents relating to Mandelson’s appointment in order to protect his own position,” he said.

He warned that Labour MPs who oppose the motion would share responsibility for withholding information, adding: “If Labour MPs support blocking the release of these papers, they will be complicit in covering up the process and judgement that led the Prime Minister to appoint Peter Mandelson as Ambassador, despite his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.”

Crime

Drink-driver narrowly avoided collision in town centre

Published

33 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.