Crime

Taking and crashing car without owner’s consent admitted in 999 call

Published

2 years ago

February 13, 2024

A COURT has heard how a 20-year-old man dialled 999 to inform officers he’d driven off in a car without the owner’s consent and crashed it, despite being over the drink-drive limit.

Ryan Guy made the rash decision to take the Vauxhall on January 28, which belonged to his girlfriend’s sister. He then proceeded to drive it along Bentlass Terrace in Pennar, Pembroke Dock.

“A phone call was then made to the police by the defendant himself, saying he’d taken the vehicle, he’d been drinking, and he’d crashed the car,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan when Guy appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“He made a full admission.”

Ms Vaughan added that the damage amounted to a slight dent on the front nearside of the car.

Subsequent intoximeter tests carried out by the officers revealed that Guy had been driving with 79 ml of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35.

Guy, of Munro Court, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle above the legal drink-drive limit; the aggravated taking of a vehicle without the owner’s consent; using a vehicle on a public road without third party insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

He was legally represented by Ms Katy Hanson.

“These are slightly unusual circumstances,” she said. “My client helped the police, he was extremely honest with them and immediately recognised that this was a very foolish action. He was immediately remorseful.”

Ms Hanson said that the car was still drivable following the crash, and the defendant had offered to pay for the full cost of repair.

“My client has never been in trouble before and it’s quite rare to have someone before the court who’s phoned the police and told them everything that happened,” she said.

This was endorsed by probation officer Julie Norman.

“He took the car with the intention of harming himself,” she said. “But after driving a short distance, he crashed into a wall and was then arrested.”

After considering the probation report, magistrates sentenced Guy to a 12-month probation order which includes ten rehabilitation requirement days and a referral to the Dyfed Drugs and Alcohol Service. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £114 surcharge and £85 costs. He was disqualified from driving for 18 months and his licence endorsed.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

13 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

13 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

14 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.