Crime

Disqualified driver avoids jail after ‘very foolish’ puppy trip

Published

2 years ago

February 27, 2024

A DISQUALIFIED driver who took a chance of driving a hired Mercedes to Pembrokeshire in order to view a litter of puppies has narrowly avoided a prison sentence.

Michael Arundel, 33, made the decision from his home in Ammanford on February 6, despite being a disqualified driver. But as he drove the hired Europcar vehicle along the A40 in Letterston, he was stopped by police officers.

“The car had been hired by another individual, which meant that the defendant was not authorised to drive it,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

Meanwhile probation officer Julie Norman stressed the seriousness of the offence,

“This was a very foolish decision that he made and it does cross the custody threshold,” she said.

“That day, the Mercedes was parked outside his house in Ammanford, but he then decided to drive it to this area to have a look at some puppies. He took a chance, but didn’t think the police would stop a car like that.”

Arundel pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified, taking a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent and using the vehicle on a public road without third party insurance.

He was sentenced to an 18-month Community Order, during which he must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and ten rehabilitation requirement days. He was disqualified from driving for 24 months. He must also pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Milford Haven man admits assault and harassment charges

Published

1 day 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

1 day 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.