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Crime

Caravan thief caught on M4 with fake number plates

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A CARAVAN thief was apprehended on the M4 using a fake number plate secured with hair ties after raiding a site near Tenby, Swansea Crown Court heard on Tuesday.

Martin Fitzgerald, part of a gang involved in the theft of two caravans from Well Park Caravan Park in New Hedges, was arrested nearly two years after being caught for a similar crime in Wiltshire.

Prosecutor Craig Jones described how police were called to Westlands Lane in Melksham, Wiltshire, on January 29, 2022, around 10.40pm, after the part-owner of a site spotted a car leaving with a Baileys Unicorn caravan. “The site had been accessed via an orchard and a fence had been driven through,” Mr. Jones stated.

Police spotted Fitzgerald towing the caravan with a Nissan X-Trail on the M4, heading towards Bristol, and later the M5. Upon stopping him, they found the car’s registration did not match the vehicle and discovered cutting equipment inside.

On the afternoon of December 11 last year, the owner of Well Park Caravan Park in New Hedges reported two vehicles entering the site and a group of “six to eight” men hitching two caravans to them. Fitzgerald drove away in a Skoda with a Coachman caravan valued at £32,000, while a Kia made off with a £25,000 caravan.

Police stopped Fitzgerald on the M4 at a service station outside Cardiff. He was found driving without a licence or insurance, and the Skoda had a fake number plate secured with hair ties, covering another fake plate. Officers also found bolt cutters, jump leads, a wheel brace, towing wing mirrors, and another number plate.

Fitzgerald was disqualified from driving at the time and was on bail for the previous caravan theft. He admitted theft for the first incident, two offences of attempted theft, going equipped for theft, two offences of fraudulent use of a registration mark, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance for the second incident.

Dan Griffiths, defending, described Fitzgerald as “an isolated, lonely individual who was struggling for money.” He emphasized that given Fitzgerald’s limitations, it was unlikely he planned the thefts and that he had agreed to tow the vehicles for a small amount of money, marking an escalation in the seriousness of his offending.

Judge Geraint Walters sentenced Fitzgerald to 10 months for the Wiltshire theft and a total of 12 months for the Pembrokeshire offences. He also banned Fitzgerald from driving for 17 months.

Crime

Court hears man exposed his flaccid manhood ‘by accident’

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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.

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Crime

Regular cocaine user from Milford Haven taken off the road

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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.

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Crime

Motorist manned from driving after being caught over limit

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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.

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