News

Pembrokeshire motorist dealt ‘life changing’ sentence

Published

2 years ago

April 3, 2024

A 31-YEAR-OLD motorist has been ordered off the roads for three years after refusing to provide a drugs sample following a previous conviction of drug-driving.

Luke Owen was convicted of driving over the legal drugs limit in May, 2022. This week he returned to the courts to face his second drug-drive related offence within a ten year period.

Owen, of Wayside Close, Simpson Cross, was stopped by officers just before 3pm on March 13 as he drove his Vauxhall Corsa through Haverfordwest.

“He was stopped as a result of information the officers had received that he may have been driving on drugs,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest magistrates this week. “When officers explained why he had been stopped, the defendant was initially dismissive and refused to provide a sample. He was just about to get arrested when he agreed to give a sample that was positive for cannabis.”

Owen was taken to a police custody suite where he was asked to give further blood tests for drugs analysis. But Ms Baker said that upon his arrival, Owen persistently refused too provide the tests.

This week Owen pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

“He didn’t realise how serious it would be, by failing to provide a specimen,” said probation officer Julie Norman.

Meanwhile Owen’s solicitor, Tom Lloyd, said the conviction would have a major impact on his day-to-day life.

“Losing his licence is going to be life-changing,” he said. “His income is going to suffer considerably as he currently has a good employment record with a local cleaning company. But being unable to drive to and from work is going to be very difficult. This is going to be a huge punishment for him.”

Owen was disqualified from driving for three years. He was given a 12-month community order which will include ten rehabilitation activity requirement days. He was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £114 surcharge.

Community

Family pays tribute to ‘loving father’ who died after A487 motorcycle crash

Published

1 hour ago

July 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE FAMILY of a 30-year-old father who died following a motorcycle crash near Aberystwyth have described him as a much-loved partner, relative and friend who will be “sadly missed by so many people”.

Matthew Sims, known to his family and friends as Matt, was seriously injured in a single-vehicle collision on the A487 at Blaenplwyf on the morning of Saturday, July 11.

The crash, involving a blue Suzuki motorcycle, happened at around 7am as Mr Sims was travelling to work.

He was taken by air ambulance to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, where he died on Thursday, July 16.

No other vehicles were involved in the collision.

Mr Sims, who was from Lampeter, leaves behind his partner Katie and his daughters, Emma and Beca.

In a tribute released through Dyfed-Powys Police, his family said: “Matt passed away on Thursday 16th July 2026 at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, following a motorcycle accident on the Aberystwyth road on his way to work on the morning of Saturday 11th July 2026. No other vehicles were involved.

“He was a loving father to his daughters Emma and Beca and partner to Katie.

“He had a wide circle of family and friends and will be sadly missed by so many people.

“Rest in peace Matt.”

Dyfed-Powys Police said officers are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Anyone who was travelling on the A487 near Blaenplwyf at around 7am on July 11, particularly anyone with dashcam footage, is urged to contact the force.

Information can be provided online through the Dyfed-Powys Police website, by emailing [email protected], sending the force a direct message on social media, or calling 101.

The reference to quote is 82 of July 11.

Crime

Driver sentenced for cannabis offences on Cleddau Bridge and in Wolverhampton

Published

5 hours ago

July 24, 2026

Court Reporter

A WOLVERHAMPTON motorist has been disqualified from driving after admitting two separate cannabis-driving offences, including one on the Cleddau Bridge.

Doel Lyons appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (July 23), where he pleaded guilty to both charges.

The first offence took place on December 22, 2025, when Lyons drove a Honda Civic along the A477 Cleddau Bridge at Pembroke Dock.

A blood test showed seven micrograms of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, per litre of blood.

The second offence occurred on March 30 this year, when Lyons drove the same Honda Civic along Tithe Croft in Wolverhampton with cannabis in his blood above the legal limit.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month driving disqualification for each offence and fined Lyons £233 on each charge.

He was also ordered to pay £85 in prosecution costs in relation to each conviction.

The court register does not specify whether the two periods of disqualification are to run concurrently.

Separate allegations that Lyons drove another vehicle while over the cannabis limit and without insurance in Staffordshire in September 2025 remain outstanding.

No pleas have been entered to those charges, which were adjourned for a plea hearing at Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court on July 29.

Crime

Pembrokeshire teenager given referral order after shoplifting spree

Published

5 hours ago

July 24, 2026

Court Reporter

A PEMBROKESHIRE teenager has been given a 12-month referral order after admitting a string of shop thefts and damaging a police vehicle.

The youth appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (July 23), where guilty pleas were entered to 11 theft offences committed between April and June.

The offences involved shops in Haverfordwest, Milford Haven and Neyland, with alcohol targeted in the majority of the incidents.

Items stolen included BuzzBall alcoholic drinks, vodka, cans of Red Bull, crisps, chewing gum and a sandwich.

The court heard that several of the thefts took place at retail parks in Haverfordwest and Milford Haven, while others occurred at stores in Neyland and Milford Haven town centre.

The individual also admitted causing £180 worth of damage to a Dyfed-Powys Police vehicle in Neyland on June 26.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month referral order, which will require the teenager to work with the Pembrokeshire Youth Offending Team and comply with a contract agreed with a youth offender panel.

Compensation totalling £336.77 was ordered in relation to the stolen property and damage to the police vehicle. The teenager’s guilty pleas were taken into account.

The court imposed reporting restrictions under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. Nothing may be published which could identify the youth.