MILFORD HAVEN motorist David Davies has been ordered off the roads after pleading guilty to driving with the cocaine derivative Benzoylecgonine in his system.

Davies, 31, of George Street, Milford Haven, was stopped by police officers just before 10.30 am on March 30 as he drove his Audi A4 along Steynton Road.  A roadside drugs wipe proved positive and Davies was conveyed to the police station for further blood tests to be carried out.  These showed he had 240 mcg of Benzoylecgonine in his system.  The prescribed legal limit is 50.

Appearing before Haverfordwest magistrates this week via a video link from Park prison where he is currently serving a custodial sentence for an unrelated offence, Davies pleaded guilty to the charge of drunk-driving. 

His solicitor, Michael Kelleher, told magistrates that he had taken the cocaine several days earlier.

“There was nothing wrong with his driving and he was completely surprised that the derivative was still in his system,” he said.

Davies was disqualified from driving for 12 months, commencing from the date of his release.  He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £24 surcharge.

A FASCINATING insight into the magical realm of Mochyn Myrddin and his encounters with symbolic animals, including the infamous wild boar from the Mabinogion, is being brought vividly to life this Friday when his tale will unfold at Canolfan Llwynhirion Brynberian.

The performance has been described as ‘an exploration of the living myth, how it relates to the present day and its relevance to our current ecological situation’.

The tale begins in Celyddon, which is the forest to which Myrddin flees, seeking the sanctuary of an apple tree, believed to be a remedy for disturbing futuristic visions triggered by the Battle of Arderydd.  There he befriends a wolf and a pig and the stories they tell each other unearth deep memories of an ancient sow goddess and a gallant quest involving the Mabinogion’s giant boar, Y Twrch Trwyth.  

1500 years later, a young single mother receives a visitation that will influence the course of her life, ultimately leading her to Wales on a quest for the living myth of Myrddin.

Mochyn Myrddin/Merlin’s Pig will be performed by Nicola Hart this Friday, October at 7.30pm.Canolfan Llwynhirion Brynberian.

TWO ducks have been rescued from the banks of the Cleddau after being found with lengths of fishing line entangled around their legs.

The ducks were spotted in the middle of the river near Quay Street, Haverfordwest.

“They appeared to be exhausted from trying to set themselves free,” said RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer and Wildlife Officer, Ellie West.

“Fortunately when I arrived it was low tide so it was easy to see them.

“Initially I was unable to see what they were entangled in, and they seemed pretty exhausted from trying to get themselves free. But when I arrived, they had been able to stand and sit on a rocky area and rest a little.”

Although the water was low, it was unsafe for Ellie to attempt a solo rescue, given the dangers of this section of the river.

As a result she requested the assistance of the Mid and West Wales Fire and Service, and crew members from Haverfordwest Fire Station arrived on scene.

“The crew was able to walk out to the ducks in their dry suits and use my nets to contain the mallards, and then walk back with them to dry land to meet me.

“The fire crew was brilliant as usual, and we are incredibly thankful for their assistance.”

Sadly the two ducks were badly entangled with the fishing line around their legs so Ellie sought the assistance of her colleague, RSPCA Inspector Keith Hogben.

“The line was cut from both ducks to allow us to work on one duck at a time with the other safely confined in a dark quiet box,” said Ellie.

“Sadly the quieter duck had a line so tightly embedded around his leg that it had cut the circulation off and his wounds were down to the bone. He also had wounds to the outer edges of its wings where he had been bashing them trying to free itself.”

As rehabilitation would not have been possible and to prevent further suffering, the duck sadly had to be put to sleep.

“Thankfully the other duck was much stronger and only had the line wrapped around his leg lightly which hadn’t caused any injury,” said Ellie.

“He was alert and active with no wounds, so he was returned to the river straight away for release where he flew off happily.

“When I returned to the river to release the duck the tide was much higher and it was obvious if we’d waited any longer to perform the rescue, the ducks would have been swept away on the high water.

“This was obviously a very sad outcome for one duck, but a lucky outcome for the other.”

Around 40% of all litter-related calls to the RSPCA across England and Wales in 2023 were about animals that had specifically become caught in fishing litter.

Ellie added: “It’s simple – when people are out and about, we urge them to hold on to their litter until there is an opportunity to dispose of it safely and responsibly – or recycle where appropriate. As we all strive to create a better world for every animal, this could save an animal’s life.“

The RSPCA says a majority of anglers are careful when fishing – but a small number are letting the community down by not disposing of their waste properly and leaving animals in danger.

“The majority of anglers do dispose of their litter properly and it is frustrating that those who don’t possibly don’t realise how dangerous it is to animals,” added Ellie. “Discarded line in particular is a terrible hazard for wildlife, particularly as it can be almost invisible.

“We strongly urge those who enjoy fishing to be extra cautious to make sure nothing is left behind. Most anglers are very responsible when disposing of their litter, but it only takes one piece of snagged line to be left in a tree or dropped near the water to endanger the life of an animal. We ask anglers to follow the Angling Trust Anglers Against Litter campaign and make use of recycling schemes to dispose of their waste tackle.”