Crime

New Year’s Day drink-driver sentenced by magistrates

Published

2 years ago

January 16, 2024

A NEW YEAR’S DAY car journey turned into a life-changing error for a Haverfordwest motorist after he was found to be over the legal drink-drive limit.

Andrew Beattie, 50, was stopped by police officers as he drove his Citroen Berlingo along the A40 at Treffgarne soon after midday on January 1.

“Officers caused the vehicle to stop as it was shown as having no insurance,” Crown Prosecutor Kelly

Rivers told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
“But when they spoke to the defendant, who was the driver, officers noticed a smell of intoxicants on him.”

A roadside breath test proved positive and Beattie, of Keats Grove, Haverfordwest, was conveyed to a police custody suite and asked to provide further breath tests. The lowest test showed he had 46 mcg of alcohol in his system. The specified limit is 35.

Beattie, who pleaded guilty to the charge of drink driving, was legally represented in court by Mr Michael Kelleher.
“He’d been out on New Year’s Eve and didn’t drive until lunchtime the following day, but he was still over the limit,” he said.

Mr Kelleher went on to say that Beattie owned two vans, one of which was no longer road worthy.
“But it turned out that it was that van which was insured, not the one which he was driving on New Year’s Day,” he said. “It was a complete mix-up. And as a result, it’s possible that he’s now going to have to leave his employment and also lose his house. This is going to be a disaster for him.”

Beattie was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was ordered to pay a total of £421, comprising fines amounting to £240, £85 costs and a £96 court surcharge

Crime

Milford Haven man admits assault and harassment charges

Published

3 days ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN has admitted assaulting a family member and harassing another relative following incidents in the town last year.

Wayne Whatling, 39, of Howarth Close, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Whatling changed his pleas to guilty to one charge of assault by beating and one charge of harassment without violence.

The assault charge relates to an incident in Milford Haven on September 13, 2025, when Whatling assaulted Ben Whatling by beating him.

He also admitted pursuing a course of conduct amounting to harassment against Carol Whatling between September 1 and September 13, 2025.

The court heard the harassment allegation involved repeatedly asking Carol Whatling for money, with the complainant said to have feared repercussions if she did not provide it.

Magistrates adjourned the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Whatling was remanded on conditional bail and ordered not to contact Carol or Ben Whatling directly or indirectly.

He is due to be sentenced at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (June 9).

Crime

Milford Haven man admits affray after alleged pub incident

Published

3 days ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN man has admitted affray following an incident at a town centre pub.

Stephen Collier, 38, of Vaynor Road, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Collier has pleaded guilty to affray, relating to an incident at Nos Da, Victoria Road, Milford Haven, on December 3, 2025.

The charge states that he used unlawful violence towards John Dean Hilton and that his conduct was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for their personal safety.

Collier also faces a separate charge of burglary dwelling with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm. It is alleged that, on the same date, he entered a flat at Nos Da as a trespasser and inflicted grievous bodily harm on Mr Hilton. He denies that charge.

The court also dealt with a breach of bail allegation after Collier was arrested on May 20 for allegedly breaching a curfew condition. He admitted the breach.

Magistrates re-admitted him to conditional bail.

His bail conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 9:00pm and 6:00am, residence at his Vaynor Road address, and exclusions from Mount Estate, Milford Haven town centre, and Nos Da.

He must also not contact prosecution witnesses, including Molly Martin, Jack Martin, Lily Rose Martin and John Hilton.

Collier is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, June 5, for sentence.

A spokesperson for Nos Da said the incident was connected with rooms upstairs at the Victoria Road premises, and did not take place in the bar itself, in the licensed area.