Crime
Woman forced to drive by ex-partner after smoking joint
A COURT has heard how a 21-year-old woman, described by her solicitor as “vulnerable,” was forced to drive her car by her violent and intimidating ex-partner just minutes after smoking a cannabis joint.
This week, Iola Williams-Jones appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates, where she pleaded guilty to a charge of driving over the legal drugs limit.
Magistrates heard how Williams-Jones, of Olivers View, Pembroke, was stopped by officers in Commercial Row, Pembroke Dock, at around 5am on 31 March.
“They stopped her black Ford Fiesta due to the manner of her driving,” said Crown Prosecutor Nia James.
“When they spoke to her, they noticed her pupils were glazed, and there was a smell of cannabis coming from the car.”
During her interview with officers, Williams-Jones admitted to smoking cannabis about 30 minutes before being stopped. A subsequent blood test confirmed she had 8.4 mg of cannabis in her blood. The legal limit is 2.
However, the defendant’s solicitor explained that the offence was the result of a prolonged period of violence and intimidation by her ex-partner.
“She was violently woken during the night by her ex-partner, who told her he needed to leave the property,” said her solicitor.
“She was frightened because he had assaulted her in the past.
“He handed her a cannabis joint and told her to smoke it, claiming it would calm her nerves.”
Williams-Jones then drove off with him in the car.
“She was extremely distressed about driving and stopped several times,” the solicitor continued. “But she was repeatedly and aggressively urged by her ex-partner to continue. Fearing the repercussions if she refused, she carried on driving.”
After taking the mitigating circumstances into account, magistrates disqualified Williams-Jones from driving for 12 months. She was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £32 surcharge.
Crime
Man sentenced for obstructing officers while drunk
A 61-YEAR-OLD Dock man who was found to be obstructing police officers when he was clearly intoxicated has appeared before magistrates for being drunk and disorderly in a public place.
Officers were called to attend an unrelated incident in Dairy Park Grove, Hakin at around 5.15 pm on September 22.
There they discovered Stuart Findlay in an intoxicated state.
“They saw the defendant who was being disorderly and was clearly drunk,” Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
“He was asked to leave because he was obstructing the officers, but he started to get aggressive.”
Findlay eventually left the scene, however ten minutes later, he returned.
“He was removed to a police van but he began clenching his fists and his jaw” continued Ms James.
“The officers thought there would be some violence ensuing, so they used reasonable force to push him to the floor.”
Findlay pleaded guilty to the charge of being drunk and disorderly. He chose to be unrepresented in court and said nothing in his mitigation.
He was fined £166 and ordered to pay £75 costs and a £66 court surcharge.
Crime
Man admits breaking window when partner denies him entry
AFTER being denied entry to his partner’s home in Milford Haven, Dock resident Stephen McHugh vented his anger by lashing out at one of the property’s windows.
But when police officers arrived at the property on August 28, they discovered the defendant sweeping up glass. Turning to the officers, he told them, ‘It’s me you need to speak to’.
This week Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates that Davies, 38, of London Road, Pembroke Dock, informed the officers that he’d smashed the window because his partner had refused to allow him entry to the premises.
“She refused, so I punched the window through,” he told the officers.
After pleading guilty to causing criminal damage to the window, which was the property of Pembrokeshire County Council, McHugh was fined £80 and ordered to pay £84 costs as well as a £114 court surcharge and £50 compensation to Pembrokeshire County Council.
Crime
Pembrokeshire man in court for obstructing train at railway station
A MAN who was due to be sentenced this week for obstructing a train at Shrewsbury Railway Station has had his case adjourned yet again after failing to accept a call from an assessment psychologist.
Gareth Richards, 42, of Princess Royal Way, Haverfordwest, was listed for sentence by Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday (October 8), after pleading guilty to the offence at an earlier hearing. He also pleaded guilty to assaulting Russell Croft by beating at Shrewsbury Railway Station and using threatening words and behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. All three offences took place on December 2, 2023.
Following his guilty pleas, made before Haverfordwest magistrates on September 17, his sentencing was adjourned for a probation report to be prepared. But this week probation officer Julie Norman informed magistrates that Richards had failed to answer a telephone call made by a psychologist assessor the day before his sentencing.
“He didn’t answer his phone so that the assessment couldn’t be made,” she said.
“It appears that he prioritised a job interview over the appointment.”
As a result. sentencing was adjourned to next Monday, October 14, and Richards was released on conditional bail, the condition being to report to Haverfordwest Police Station.
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