Crime

Drink-driver loses licence weeks before Taiwan teaching post

Published

10 months ago

August 20, 2025

SECOND OFFENCE IN COURT

A MOTORIST has lost his licence weeks before starting a teaching post in Taiwan after driving his car into a hedge while over the drink-drive limit.

Police were called to Solva on July 29 after reports that a Ford Fiesta had collided with a hedge on the A487. When officers arrived, they found 25-year-old Evan James and his passenger standing at the roadside.

“There was substantial damage to the car, and both parties smelt strongly of intoxicants,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

When spoken to by officers, James admitted driving the car, saying: “I’m drunk, and it’s all my fault.”

A breathalyser test showed 96 microgrammes of alcohol in his system – nearly three times the legal limit of 35.

Ms Vaughan told the court James had a previous conviction for drink-driving in 2017.

Probation officer Julie Norman said James and his friend had been camping 11 miles from St Davids. “They’d had a few drinks with the intention of getting a taxi back to the campsite, but that didn’t materialise,” she explained. “As they approached Solva, they collided with a hedge.”

James, of Post Office Row, Glangrwyney, Crickhowell, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

His solicitor, Alaw Harries, said the mandatory disqualification would have major implications for the defendant, who had been offered a work placement to teach English in Taiwan.

“He has high ambitions, but that night he made a mistake,” she said. “His placement begins in September, and it would have helped him to get away from the negative issues in his life. He’s extremely disappointed in himself, and is well aware of the potential harm he may have caused to others.”

Magistrates disqualified James from driving for 36 months and imposed a 12-month community order requiring 140 hours of unpaid work.

“This is the second time this has happened,” presiding magistrate Mary Smith told him. “There was a collision, and there could well have been a fatality as a result of your thinking that night. Quite honestly, you’re not fit to be on the roads until you grow up and get a better attitude.”

Crime

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

2 hours 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.