Crime

Driver claimed ‘kidnap by Islamic male’ after crashing drink-drive vehicle

Published

1 year ago

May 27, 2025

A POLISH motorist who crashed his car after driving over the legal alcohol limit told police he had been kidnapped and held to ransom by an Islamic male threatening to harm his friend.

However, the claim was not accepted by police, prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week, as 47-year-old Pawel Stasiak appeared in the dock.

Stasiak, of Little Road, Hayes, London, pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving without a licence, and driving without insurance.

The incident began just before 9:00pm on May 9, when Stasiak was seen walking out of the Co-op store in Pembroke. A witness saw him bend down to speak to some children, and believed an inappropriate word had been said. Stasiak then shook the children’s hands and got into his car.

“He was then seen driving the wrong way against the flow of traffic,” said Ms Vaughan. “He was also seen making a praying gesture with his hands before driving off at speed.”

Minutes later, his Toyota RAV4 was found crashed at the entrance to Newton Farm campsite, near Freshwater West. The vehicle had mounted a grass verge, smashed through a fence, and come to rest with Stasiak in the driver’s seat and a dog beside him.

He then got out and walked into a nearby field.

“He appeared either intoxicated or in shock, as he was staggering around,” Ms Vaughan said.

Police arrived at the scene but Stasiak initially refused a roadside breath test, claiming he had been kidnapped by an Islamic male and was being ransomed due to threats made against a friend.

He was arrested and taken into custody, where he later provided breath samples with a reading of 60 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Supported by a Polish interpreter in court, Stasiak became emotional as he addressed the magistrates.

“I had a huge problem with alcohol, but I stopped drinking for ten years,” he said. “Then my brother passed away in December, and since then, everything has come back.”

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for 20 months. He was fined £161 and ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £64 victim surcharge.

Crime

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

1 hour ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

A SPITTAL man is to stand trial accused of assaulting a man and causing actual bodily harm.

Robert Hedley, 41, of Wesley Way, Spittal, Haverfordwest, is charged with assaulting Liam Morley-Trivett at St Clears on August 30, 2025.

The case was before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jun 18).

Hedley was granted unconditional bail and is due to stand trial at the same court on Monday, June 29.

The trial is listed for 10:00am and has been given a time estimate of twenty minutes.

Crime

Milford Haven woman spared jail despite string of shop thefts

Published

2 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Repeat offender stole from Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and petrol stations in wave of offences

A MILFORD HAVEN woman who admitted a series of shop thefts committed over a matter of weeks has been handed a suspended prison sentence by magistrates.

Marion Picton, aged 46, of Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 18) and pleaded guilty to eight theft offences and a drugs-related offence.

The court heard that Picton carried out a string of thefts at stores across Milford Haven between April and June this year.

Among the offences, Picton admitted stealing meat from Food Warehouse on Apr 23, food worth £60 from Victoria Filling Station on May 29, groceries from Home Bargains on Jun 7 and Jun 8, food from Victoria Filling Station on Jun 7 and Jun 9, groceries and non-food items worth £51.09 from Tesco on Jun 16, and food worth £32.50 from Food Warehouse on the same day.

She also admitted failing to attend an initial drugs assessment after testing positive for Class A drugs, including cocaine and opiates.

Magistrates were told the offences represented persistent repeat offending and had been committed while Picton was already subject to a court order.

The bench imposed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

As part of the order, Picton must complete up to 15 rehabilitation activity days under the supervision of the Probation Service.

The court ordered her to pay compensation to several of the businesses affected, including Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and Victoria Filling Station.

In sentencing, magistrates said the offences were serious enough to justify immediate custody but suspended the sentence because there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and Picton appeared motivated to address her addiction issues.

Picton was warned that any further offending during the 18-month suspension period could see the prison sentence activated.