A 58-YEAR-OLD Haverfordwest man narrowly avoided jail after punching a police officer twice in the face.

Police were called to a property on Dew Street just after 10:00pm on July 6, following reports of a male motorist involved in a road traffic collision.

At the scene, officers encountered Barrie Knight.

“He’d been to the Mariners to pick up a family member and clearly there’d been an incident,” Crown Prosecutor Nia James told District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

“For some reason, the police came to his address, and [Barrie Knight] threw his fist towards one of the officers, who felt a sharp pain to his nose, where contact was made.”

Ms James explained that the officer was struck at least twice, although no visible injuries were caused.

“It was more luck than judgement that he wasn’t hurt, and this should not be tolerated,” she added.

When asked to provide a breath sample, Knight refused.

“He was taken to the police station, where officers again tried to obtain breath samples from him, but there was a deliberate refusal,” Ms James continued.

Knight pleaded guilty to common assault of an emergency worker and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

He was sentenced to eight weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months. Additionally, he must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, was disqualified from driving for 18 months, and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the officer, a £154 court surcharge, and £85 in costs.

A FORMER veterinary surgery manager who stole £50,000 from her employers has been jailed for three years.

Charlotte Devonald, 44, of Cromwell Road, Milford Haven, abused her position of trust at Animal Doctors veterinary surgery in Clydach, Swansea Valley, by diverting cash takings into her personal bank account and misusing a company fuel card.

Swansea Crown Court heard that Devonald carried out the thefts over a two-year period between November 2020 and November 2022 while earning an annual salary of £35,000. Despite being entrusted with financial responsibilities, including payroll, banking cash takings, and managing supplier payments, she systematically stole from the surgery.

The theft was uncovered after discrepancies in financial records were flagged by the surgery’s accountants. Further investigation revealed that Devonald had made multiple cash deposits into her personal account, ranging from £100 to £1,000, and had fraudulently spent over £5,000 on the company’s fuel card, including buying fuel for friends.

In a police interview, Devonald denied wrongdoing and claimed others had access to the office safe. However, she later pleaded guilty to theft and fraud by abuse of position on the day her trial was due to begin, after one of the business owners returned from Australia to give evidence.

During sentencing, Judge Paul Thomas KC described Devonald’s actions as a “brazen and cynical breach of trust” and criticised her for not telling her daughter about the prosecution and the likelihood of imprisonment, calling it “another example of your cruel selfishness.”

An impact statement from the surgery’s owners detailed how the thefts left the business in debt to suppliers and HMRC, forced valued staff to leave, and caused severe emotional and financial strain.

Defending, Jon Tarrant said Devonald was a “fragile and isolated” woman who struggled to confront the reality of her actions. He added that she expressed remorse and asked for her love to be conveyed to her daughter.

Devonald was sentenced to three years in prison and will serve half her sentence in custody before being released on licence.

PICTURED Bringing justice: Charlotte Devonald was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court for theft and fraud (Pic: Facebook).

A HOMELESS man narrowly avoided jail after assaulting a security guard at Morrisons in Haverfordwest.

Michael Carruthers, 32, pleaded guilty to attempting to steal food and assaulting security guard Maxwell Opoku, causing him to fall and injure his shoulder.

In court, Carruthers’ solicitor highlighted his client’s homelessness and ongoing struggles.

Carruthers was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 28 weeks, with 20 rehabilitation activity days and £200 compensation to Mr Opoku.

He must also pay £185 court costs and a £154 surcharge.