News

Park planners expected to give thumbs-up to injunction on site with multiple breaches

Published

3 years ago

April 12, 2023

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

NATIONAL PARK planners are expected to give the thumbs-up for an injunction on a Pembrokeshire site that continues to see planning breaches despite hefty court fines imposed.

Members of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s Development Management committee, meeting on April 19, are recommended to back a call to approve an injunction in relation to land at Highlands View Fold, The Ridgeway, Manorbier Newton.

Following a range of planning breaches, the authority issued two enforcement notices and two temporary stop notices in 2015 to a Richard Scarfe in relation to land at Highlands View Fold.

These were not complied with and in March 2019 the authority commenced a criminal prosecution.

Pembroke Dock man Richard Scarfe admitted developing the land and moving caravans onto it over a four-year period.

Scarfe alleged that he had, since the enforcement action was taken, sold the property to his daughter Brogan Scarfe, but nevertheless accepted responsibility for the breaches.

He also admitted ignoring warnings by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

Local magistrates fined him £15,000 and told him to pay £2,170 in costs and a surcharge.

Scarfe later lodged an appeal to a judge at Swansea crown court before dropping it, accepting the sentence.

Judge Heywood had expressed surprise that the magistrates had allowed Scarfe to pay off the financial orders at a rate that would take him 69 years.

He ordered Scarfe to pay an additional £500 in court costs.

Since then, the situation has not been remedied, a report for Park planners states.

“Despite pleading guilty to the offences, the breaches of planning control have not been remedied. Following a site visit by officers in February 2023 it became clear that the situation has exacerbated since the prosecution in March 2019.

“Officers have sought legal advice and it was identified that there are two options available.

“The first is to take direct action to remove unauthorised development and seek to recover the costs of doing so from the landowner. These costs would be significant, and the exercise would be resource intensive.

“Officers therefore recommend the alternative option of obtaining an injunction, which could result in committal proceedings for the parties involved if there is an ongoing failure to comply.”

The report says that Mr Scarfe has transferred the land to his daughter Brogan but has acknowledged to the authority in writing that he is responsible for activities at the site.

The recommendation before the April 19 committee is to approve the injunction and to delegate to the Director for Placemaking, Decarbonisation and Engagement the authorisation of the authority’s solicitor Mr Charles Felgate and Counsel Mr Matthew Graham Paul to enter the site.

Crime

Scaffolder banned after cannabis smell reported from van

Published

14 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A SCAFFOLDER has been banned from driving for 14 months after an off-duty police officer smelt cannabis coming from his Volkswagen Transporter as it travelled through Slebech.

The report was made to police at around 10.30am on February 15. When officers located the vehicle, they discovered it was being driven by 46-year-old Christopher Bennett.

Further blood tests showed Bennett had 16.8 mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2.

This week Bennett, of Queensdown Gardens, Brislington, Bristol, pleaded guilty to drug-driving when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates. He was represented in court by Alaw Harries.

“The defendant is remorseful for his actions and recognises the seriousness of the offence,” Ms Harries told the Bench.

“He suffers significant pain following operations to his shoulders and has been prescribed codeine. But this causes drowsiness, so he began self-medicating using cannabis.

“On the day of the offence, he was in worse pain than usual, so he used cannabis earlier than he normally does.”

Ms Harries said the conviction would have serious financial consequences for Bennett, who works as a self-employed scaffolder.

“His driving licence is fundamental to his livelihood,” she said.

“The financial consequences are going to be significant to him, as well as to those who are dependent on him.”

Magistrates fined Bennett £600 and ordered him to pay a £240 surcharge and £85 costs.

He was disqualified from driving for 14 months.

Crime

Estate agent banned after drug-drive crash in Milford Haven

Published

15 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Alison Walker had nearly five times the legal benzoylecgonine limit in her system

A PEMBROKESHIRE estate agent has been banned from the road after admitting driving through Milford Haven with nearly five times the legal limit of a cocaine metabolite in her system.

Alison Walker, 59, was arrested on February 2 after her white MG was involved in a two-car collision on Great North Road, Milford Haven.

“Fortunately there were no injuries, just damage to the vehicles,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

After providing a positive roadside drug swipe, Walker was arrested and asked to provide blood samples. These showed she had 240mcg of benzoylecgonine in her system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

Walker, of Woodland Crescent, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to drug-driving and was represented in court by solicitor Tom Lloyd.

He told the bench that prior to the offence, Walker had been employed as an estate agent.

“She has a good relationship with her boss, and as soon as this conviction is dealt with and her sentence has been served, he will be happy for her to return to her employment,” he said.

After considering a comprehensive probation report, magistrates disqualified Walker from driving for 20 months.

She was fined £80 and ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs. Walker must also carry out a 12-month community order, during which she must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Crime

Pembroke Dock motorist banned after driving with cocaine in system

Published

15 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Court Reporter

A PEMBROKE DOCK motorist has been banned from the roads after being caught driving with more than seven times the legal cocaine limit in her system.

Naomi Grant, 47, was stopped by police on the night of February 6 as she drove her Vauxhall Astra along the A477 near Pembroke Dock.

After providing a positive roadside drug swipe, Grant, of Cheriton Road, Pennar, Pembroke Dock, was taken for further tests.

Blood analysis showed she had 74mcg of cocaine in her system. The legal limit is 10mcg. She also had 1,200mcg of benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine, where the legal limit is 50mcg.

This week Grant, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to two charges of drug-driving when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates.

She was represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd, who told the court that his client is currently prescribed a considerable amount of medication for a number of medical issues.

“She also has her own personal assistant as a result of her medical needs,” he said.

“She has done everything that has been asked of her in relation to this offence and has engaged with the Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service to help her move forward.”

Magistrates disqualified Grant from driving for 12 months and fined her £120.

She must also pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.