Crime

Banned from driving for being twice over the limit

Published

5 months ago

July 31, 2024

A MOTORIST has appeared before magistrates after being caught driving when he was over twice the drink-drive limit on two separate occasions within three weeks.

Stephen William Mabe, 52, was first stopped on June 23 after police officers received a report of the manner of his driving at Dwrbach, Fishguard.

“He had been seen driving erratically all over the road, he was driving on the wrong side, he nearly drove into bushes and he almost had an accident,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

Dyfed-Powys Police then received an additional call from a member of the public who had welfare concerns for the driver.

Mabe was seen sitting in the driver’s seat of his vehicle. A roadside breath test proved positive, while further breath tests carried out at the police station revealed he had 95 mcg of alcohol in his system. The specified legal limit is 35.

On July 9, Mabe was listed to attend Haverfordwest magistrates court for the first hearing for his drink-drive offence. When he failed to surrender to court bail at the appointed time, officers spotted his vehicle, a Kia Sportage, in a car park at Plas y Gamil, Road, Goodwick.

“He was quiet and softly spoken and admitted that he’d been drinking the night before,” said Ms Jackson.

Once again he was conveyed to a police custody suite for further breath tests to be carried out, and these showed he had 94 mcg of alcohol in his system.

Mabe, of Ty Croes, Plas y Gamil, Road, Goodwick pleaded guilty to two charges of drink driving and a third charge of failing to surrender to court bail at the appointed time.

He was legally represented by Fenn Richards who said her client has alcohol dependency problems.

She said that his decline began with the closure of the Laura Ashely store in Haverfordwest, where Mabe had been employed as the store manager for 14 years.

“This had a devastating impact on his mental health,” she said. “Things got worse and led to severe depression, when he began self-medicating with alcohol.”

Ms Richards said that Mabe has recently been referred to the Dyfed Drugs and Alcohol Service and has begun reducing his alcohol intake.

Mabe was disqualified from driving for 36 months. He was sentenced to a 12 month community order during which he must carry out ten rehabilitation activity requirement days. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £48 surcharge.

Crime

Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THREE men admit their guilt after police discover over 700 cannabis plants during a raid on a former school building in Llandysul.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at the former Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Heol Llyn Y Fran on November 15. Inside, they found 737 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms.

Armeld Troksi, 29, and Njazi Gjana, 27, both from Empire Avenue in Edmonton, London, along with Ervin Gjana, 24, from Durham Avenue in Romford, were arrested at the scene and later charged with producing cannabis.

The three men appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where they admitted their involvement in the illegal operation. Defence solicitor Joshua Scouller requested a pre-sentence report for Ervin Gjana, which was granted by Judge Geraint Walters.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 20.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Following a warrant executed at the former school on Heol Llyn Y Fran, officers discovered a significant cannabis grow containing 737 plants.

“We are grateful to the local community for their continued support and cooperation. Officers will remain in the area while the site is secured.

“Our commitment remains firm in disrupting drug production and supply networks across our force area.

“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small it may seem. Every piece of information can make a difference, and reports can easily be submitted through our website.”

Crime

Sex offender jailed for breaching court order

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Court Reporter

A SEX offender from Wolfscastle has been jailed after using fake names on WhatsApp and attempting to access a social media app, breaching his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

Luke Rogers, 38, was sentenced to 10 months in prison at Swansea Crown Court after pleading guilty to two breaches of the order, which was imposed following his 2020 conviction for sexual activity with a child.

Under the SHPO, Rogers was prohibited from using unregistered internet-enabled devices or creating online profiles under false names. Prosecutor Ryan Bowen told the court that police monitoring software installed on Rogers’ phone detected activity in group chats under three aliases last November.

Further investigation revealed Rogers had also searched for the MeetMe app on four occasions and admitted using it. Rogers, described by Mr. Bowen as “apologetic,” was arrested, and his phone was seized.

The court heard Rogers has a history of 17 convictions for 35 offences, including breaching court orders and failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements.

Defence barrister Olivia Rose said Rogers had cooperated fully with police and expressed a desire to change. She argued that his breaches stemmed from a misunderstanding about permitted names and emphasized his efforts to seek support.

Despite these mitigating factors, Judge Catherine Richards noted Rogers’ pattern of reoffending and stated: “The reality is I can only pass an immediate custodial sentence.”

She expressed hope that Rogers would take advantage of post-sentence supervision to break the cycle of offending.

Crime

Police renew appeal to find Darren Markes from Pembroke Dock

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Tom Sinclair

POLICE in Pembrokeshire are renewing their appeal for information to locate Darren Markes, 46, from Pembroke Dock. He is wanted in connection with a domestic assault.

Markes is believed to have links to the Portsmouth and Sussex areas.

If you have seen Darren Markes or have any information about his whereabouts, please contact the police through one of the following methods: