News

Former rugby international admits to drink-driving incident near St Clears

Published

2 years ago

January 30, 2024

FOMER Welsh rugby international Dafydd Jones has pleaded guilty to drink-driving following a collision with a tractor in Pembrokeshire.

The ex-Scarlets and Llanelli player was found to be over twice the legal alcohol limit after the accident on the A40 between St Clears and Carmarthen.

The incident, which occurred at approximately 18:30 GMT on 11 January, led to Jones being banned from driving for 18 months by the Llanelli Magistrates’ Court this Tuesday.

The 44-year-old, hailing from Porthyrhyd in Carmarthenshire, expressed remorse in court, acknowledging that he had made “an error of judgement.” He admitted to consuming beer prior to the crash and not eating any food before getting behind the wheel.

Jones’s vehicle reportedly collided into the back of a tractor and trailer, which were said to have had “no illumination”. Upon testing, he was found with 71mg of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, significantly over the legal limit of 35mg.

Having pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol, Jones has been ordered to pay a total of £1,054, inclusive of a fine and court costs, alongside the driving ban. However, the court noted that if he successfully completes a drink-drive awareness course before the next January, the duration of his ban could be reduced.

Crime

Drink-driver narrowly avoided collision in town centre

Published

3 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

4 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.