Crime

Pembrokeshire firefighter admits drink-driving

Published

2 years ago

May 14, 2024

A COURT has told how a Pembrokeshire firefighter volunteer made ‘the biggest mistake of his life’ after driving at Canaston Bridge when he was more than four-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit.

When police arrived at the scene, they discovered David Thomas in the driver’s seat of a Vauxhall Combo van.

“Police officers had received a report of a single vehicle road traffic collision, after a van had gone into a ditch at Cross Hands, in Canaston Bridge,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“There they found the defendant sitting in the vehicle; he was extremely intoxicated.”

The incident took place at around 3.30pm on the afternoon of April 24.

A roadside breath test proved positive and Thomas, 66, of Haven Road, Haverfordwest, was taken to a police custody suite where he gave two further breath tests. These gave a lower reading of 159 mcg, The legal limit is 35.

“This is a very hard-working and valued member of the community, but that day, he made the biggest mistake of his life,” said solicitor, Tom Lloyd, after Thomas pleaded guilty to the charge of drink-driving.

Mr Lloyd said that Thomas is a self-employed builder who has worked on construction projects throughout Pembrokeshire since the age of 16. He has also served as a voluntary firefighter for a number of years.

“It’s very sad that he finds himself in this situation,” continued Mr Loyd. “He’s extremely embarrassed as he is a hard-working person who has never, ever, done anything wrong in his life. This has been a true wake-up call.”

Mr Lloyd’s comments were endorsed by probation officer Julie Norman.

“He is very aware of the seriousness of the offence,” she said.

“Other road users would have been at risk as this was a busy time of day, with people picking up children from school.

“Mr Thomas had drunk alcohol the day before and the following morning he got up, went to work and had more alcohol. He was on his way home from work at the time of the offence, and he lost control of the van.”

Ms Norman went on to say that since his arrest, Thomas has engaged with the Dyfed Drugs and Alcohol Service.

“It’s encouraging that he acknowledges that he has an alcohol issue,” she said.

After considering mitigation, magistrates agreed that Thomas’s offence crossed the custody threshold. He was sentenced to eight weeks in custody suspended for 12 months and was disqualified from driving for 36 months.

He must also carry out ten rehabilitation activity requirement days with the probation service and was ordered to pay a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.

“The figure [of 159mcg] is frankly off the scale,” commented the presiding magistrate when passing sentence.

“But we feel that you have the will to sort yourself out. You now need to work with probation to address the issue.”

Crime

Train disruption after youths seen playing on tracks at Haverfordwest station

Published

14 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Police attend after dangerous incident involving football on railway line

TRAINS were delayed at Haverfordwest railway station on Tuesday (Apr 1) after a group of youths were seen playing with a football near live tracks, prompting a police response.

Footage captured by a bystander shows several young people on the platform throwing and kicking a ball across the station. In one clip, a youth is seen kicking a football from Platform 2 towards Platform 1, but the ball overshoots and lands beyond a fence into the station car park.

More concerning footage shows the ball rolling onto the railway line, with one youth climbing down onto the tracks to retrieve it—an act that poses serious risk of injury or death due to live rails and the potential for oncoming trains.

The incident caused disruption to services, with two trains delayed by 25 minutes while the situation was dealt with.

Police attended the scene, although it is not yet clear whether any arrests were made. Officers have been approached for comment.

Railway safety rules strictly prohibit access to the tracks except by authorised personnel, and incidents such as this are treated seriously due to the potentially fatal consequences.

The Herald understands that such behaviour can also lead to significant disruption across the rail network, affecting passengers and services well beyond the immediate area.

Anyone with further information about the incident is urged to contact police.

Crime

Driver given interim ban after A478 crash

Published

2 days ago

March 31, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Motorist fled scene after colliding with fence and hedge near Clunderwen

A LLANDISSILIO motorist has been handed an interim driving disqualification after failing to stop following a collision on the A478.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard this week that Dean Duffy, 31, collided with a fence and hedge while driving his Ford Puma at Clunderwen on Tuesday (Mar 4). His failure to stop and report the incident led to his court appearance.

Duffy, of Maesybryn, Llandissilio, pleaded guilty to failing to stop after a road traffic collision, failing to report the accident, driving without third party insurance and driving while disqualified.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court: “A vehicle collided with a fence and hedge and the bumper came off. The vehicle was abandoned, but correspondence on the seat identified the defendant as possibly being the person responsible.”

Magistrates adjourned sentencing until Tuesday (Apr 28) to allow for the preparation of a pre-sentence report by the probation service.

Duffy was disqualified from driving on an interim basis pending sentence.

Crime

Dock motorist avoids jail after drug-drive crash

Published

2 days ago

March 31, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKE DOCK motorist has narrowly avoided a custodial sentence after taking his mother’s car without permission and crashing into a wall, causing damage to a parked BMW.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard this week that on September 27, 2025, Tony Brundrett, 21, took his mother’s Vauxhall Astra from her home and drove off without her consent.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court that Brundrett lost control of the vehicle and collided with a wall.

“The wall collapsed as a result of the impact, causing damage to a parked BMW,” she said.

The owner of the BMW said the vehicle suffered bodywork damage and scratching following the incident.

When arrested, Brundrett was found to have 253 micrograms of benzoylecgonine – a cocaine metabolite – in his system, more than five times the legal limit of 50.

The court heard that although Brundrett’s mother confirmed the car was hers, she did not wish to criminalise her son.

Brundrett, of Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, driving without insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, criminal damage, and drug-driving.

Defending, Alaw Harries said: “He accepts his behaviour was foolish and irresponsible and wishes to apologise to the court for what took place.

“At the time of the offence, he was experiencing significant personal difficulties. This was the first and last time he has taken drugs, and he was not thinking clearly. While that is not an excuse, it provides context. He is now in a much better place.”

Magistrates sentenced Brundrett to 18 weeks’ custody, suspended for 24 months. He was disqualified from driving for two years and ordered to pay £100 compensation, a £154 surcharge and £85 costs.