Crime
Man caught drink-driving after fleeing lover’s tiff
A LOVER’S tiff resulted in a court appearance this week after a man fled from a property when his partner threw household items at his head.
But when Jonathan Langston called the police to inform them of his situation, he was stopped by officers less than a mile from his property, and found to be over the legal drink-drive limit.
“He had no intention of driving, but he’d had items thrown at him and was told to leave,” said his solicitor, Michael Kelleher.
Langston, 36, phoned the police to explain what was going on and officers apprehended his vehicle on the B4585 at Manorbier at around 10am on September 23. A roadside breath test proved positive, and subsequent intoximeter tests showed he had 41 mcg of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35.
Crown Prosecutor Nia James told magistrates that when arrested, Langston told officers, “I’d never have driven if I hadn’t had s*** thrown at me.”
Meanwhile Michael Kelleher said the defendant drives around 40,000 miles a year as a self-employed layer of resin floors.
“As a result of what’s happened, he’s now going to be unemployed,” he said.
Langston, who gave his address to the court as Brynbrain Road, Cwmllynfell, Swansea pleaded guilty to the charge of drink-driving. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 court surcharge.
Crime
Carmarthen drug dealer on run for 16 months found disguised in NHS scrubs
A DRUG dealer who evaded capture for over a year has been arrested after returning home disguised in NHS scrubs and a lanyard. Lynne Leyson, 53, from Carmarthen, fled after being convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs, along with possession of criminal property, in May 2023.
Leyson was finally apprehended after 16 months on the run, when she returned to her family farm in Pibwr to say her goodbyes. She was arrested on 16 September 2024 and has had an additional two months added to her nine-year prison sentence for failing to surrender to authorities.
During her time as a fugitive, extensive efforts were made to track Leyson, including the involvement of Interpol. Swansea Crown Court heard that the search included border checks, wanted person posters, and the analysis of her associates’ travel patterns. Prosecuting barrister Ieuan Rees explained that authorities had conducted a wide-ranging investigation, which also included social media monitoring.
Leyson had been convicted alongside her partner and son in May 2023 for their roles in the drug operation. However, she failed to appear for sentencing in July of the same year and was sentenced in absentia in September 2023. Her partner and son, who had reportedly used guns, knives, and Doberman dogs to intimidate locals suspicious of the activities at the remote farm, were also sentenced at that time.
The arrest took place after Leyson, dressed in NHS scrubs and wearing a lanyard, returned to the family farm. The NHS-branded items have been handed over to the health board for further investigation, with suggestions they may have been part of a “fancy dress” disguise. Defence barrister Hywel Davies claimed the costume was not intended for deception, but rather as part of a plan for Leyson to hand herself in.
Judge Catherine Richards, addressing Leyson via video-link from Eastwood Park Prison, described her actions as “deliberate and sophisticated”. Leyson’s decision to abscond added significant complications to the case, which involved international authorities in the search.
Leyson’s additional two-month sentence will run consecutively with her existing nine-year term.
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.
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