Crime

Mother admits driving child to school over legal drug limit

Published

4 weeks ago

November 6, 2024

A MOTHER has been fined for driving her toddler to school whilst unfit through drugs.

Haverfordwest magistrates were told this week that teachers at Fenton School, Haverfordwest became concerned at Sophie Boswell’s demeanour when she arrived at the school on April 17.

Police officers were asked to attend the scene, and subsequent blood tests carried out on the 30-year-old mother at the police station revealed she had 1200 mcg of diazepam in her system. The legal limit is 550.

“My client was going through an extremely difficult period in her life,” her solicitor, Tom Lloyd, told the court.

“She suffers historically from an addiction to prescription drugs after the loss of her father, and things got completely out of control.

“But this offence has given her the opportunity to reassess her life and she’s taken significant steps, off her own back, to make sure that nothing like this will happen again, jeopardising her having custody of her child, because that’s the most important thing in the world for her.”

After pleading guilty to driving a vehicle whilst unfit through drugs, Boswell was disqualified from driving for 14 months.

“We’re concerned that this offence took place at a school and that your driving was attracting attention,” commented the presiding magistrates. “This is why we are raising the ban from 12 months to 14.”

Bowell was also fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £32 court surcharge.

Crime

Motorist almost three times over drink limit

Published

49 mins ago

December 3, 2024

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A MOTORIST who was nearly three times over the drink-drive limit has been sentenced following a crash on the B4314 in Pendine.

Stuart Rickford, 43, was driving his Audi at 1:30pm on November 15 when he collided with another vehicle.

“There were no injuries, but when officers spoke to the defendant they had a strong smell of intoxicants,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told the court.

A roadside breath test proved positive, and Rickford, of Beach Hotel, Marsh Road, Pendine, later gave a reading of 93 mcg of alcohol at the police station. The legal limit is 35.

Rickford pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order with 80 hours of unpaid work. He was disqualified from driving for 23 months and ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Man jailed for threats at Withybush Hospital

Published

49 mins ago

December 3, 2024

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sentenced to seven days in custody after threatening to harm members of the public at Withybush Hospital.

Wayne Tydeman, 42, made threats while speaking to a community practice nurse following his release from a 24-week custodial sentence.

“He was on post-sentence supervision, and this is the first breach,” probation officer Julie Norman told the court.

Tydeman, of Dew Street, Haverfordwest, was remanded in custody and appeared via video link from Park Prison. His solicitor said his mental health had improved during his time in custody.

Judge Layton sentenced him to seven days in custody, warning: “If you fail to engage in the future, the sentence will be considerably longer.”

Crime

Steynton woman fined for breaching protection order

Published

50 mins ago

December 3, 2024

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A DECISION to name a serving police officer in a Facebook post has resulted in a court conviction for Steynton’s Lisa Thomas.

On August 28, Thomas, 34, posted the officer’s name on Facebook, breaching a community protection notice.

Thomas, of Plas Peregrine, Steynton, told the court she didn’t understand her actions breached the order. “I’m not a criminal, and I don’t understand how the police can access my private Facebook page,” she said.

Thomas pleaded guilty to the offence and was fined £80, with a £42 court surcharge imposed.