Crime

Drug-driver sentenced following three-car pileup on A40

Published

5 months ago

July 3, 2024

A MOTORIST responsible for a three-car Christmas pile-up on the A40 near Penblewin has appeared before magistrates after pleading guilty to drug-driving.

Police received a call on the night of December 19 that three vehicles had collided on the A40 between Penblewin and Whitland.

When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered the collision which included a Ford Fiesta that was being driven by Marco Lewis, 31.

“It was obvious to the officers that he was intoxicated as his eyes were extremely glazed and he was unsteady on his feet,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“It was also apparent that he was unable to focus on what was being said to him.”

Lewis admitted to the officers that he had been driving the Fiesta at the time of the collision and had also been carrying a passenger. He claimed the vehicle was relatively new, resulting in him swerving across the road and colliding head-on with on-coming vehicles.

A roadside drugs wipe proved positive and Lewis was taken to the police custody suite for blood tests to be carried out for analyses. These confirmed he had been driving with 1,200 mcg of diazepam in his blood. The threshold limit is 550 mcg. A number of other illegal drugs were found in his blood, however these were all below the legal limit.

Lewis, of Victoria Close, Narberth, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving above the specified legal drug limit.

Magistrates requested a probation report prior to sentencing the defendant.

Probation officer Julie Norman informed magistrates that the incident occurred during a particularly difficult time for Lewis, following his sister’s death earlier in the year, aged 24.

“This was a trigger for his drug abuse,” she said. “After the offence, he took matters into his own hands and has received treatment from the drugs team and is now abstinent from all substances. He was discharged from their services in May, so this is a very positive step in the right direction.”

Lewis was placed on a 12-month community order during which he must carry out 15 rehabilitation requirement days. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £114 court surcharge. He was disqualified from driving for 18 months.

Crime

Court hears man exposed his flaccid manhood ‘by accident’

Published

3 days ago

November 19, 2024

Court Reporter

A 21-YEAR-OLD Pembrokeshire man has appeared before magistrates charged with intentionally exposing his genitals in a public place.

Thomas Jones is accused of carrying out the act at a property in New Moat, Clarbeston Road, on November 9, 2022.

“The defendant knocked on the door of a female and offered his gardening services,” Crown prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“She accepted his offer and moved her car so that he could move his van, but when she turned around, she could see his flaccid penis was outside his trousers. When she pointed this out to him, he said he didn’t know that it was exposed.”

Jones denies the charge. He was released on unconditional bail to await his trial at Haverfordwest magistrates court on January 6.

Crime

Regular cocaine user from Milford Haven taken off the road

Published

3 days ago

November 19, 2024

Sarah Jane Absalom

A MILFORD HAVEN resident who admits to being a regular cocaine user has lost his driving licence after being found behind the wheel when he was 15 times over the legal Benzoylecgonine limit.

Teifion Morse, 41, was stopped by officers just before midnight on May 1 following reports that he was driving his Vauxhall Insignia along the A477 at excessive speeds.

“The vehicle was travelling westwards towards Kilgetty, and Teifion Morse was the driver and the sole occupant, “ Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

A roadside drugs wipe proved positive while further blood tests carried out at the police custody suite showed that Morse had 800 mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system (the legal limit is 50), and 20 mcg of cocaine. The legal limit is 10.

Ms James said that when Morse was spoken to by officers, he told them that he knew the readings would be positive. “I’ve done stupid amounts today,” he said.

Morse, of Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to two charges of drug driving. A probation report stated that since leaving the military five and a half years ago, Morse has suffered from mental health issues.

He’s been using cocaine as a coping mechanism,” said the probation officer. “He freely admits that he uses cocaine to help him cope, but it’s spiralled and is getting more and more out of control. He would like support to kick this habit.”

Morse chose to be legally unrepresented when he appeared before magistrates.

“It was my stupid fault and I’m trying to take the correct steps to get on the right path,” he said in mitigation.

Morse was sentenced to an 18-month community order during which he must carry out 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work. He was disqualified from driving for 15 months and must pay a £140 court surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Motorist manned from driving after being caught over limit

Published

3 days ago

November 19, 2024

Court Reporter

A PEMBROKE DOCK motorist has been ordered off the roads after driving through Pembroke town centre when he was over the drink-drive limit.

Just before 1am on October 31, police officers stopped a Vauxhall Zafira that was being driven along South Road by Cameron Sell, 23, who was exceeding the speed limit.

“He was acting erratically when he was speaking to the officer,” Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverofrdwest magistrates this week.

A roadside breath test proved positive and subsequent breath tests carried out at the police station showed Sell had 42 mcg of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35.

After considering the facts, magistrates fined Sell £300 and ordered him to pay a £120 court surcharge and £85 costs. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.