Crime

Teen driver banned after cannabis offence

Published

9 months ago

September 30, 2025

Sarah Jane Absalom

Nineteen-year-old caught speeding in Tenby had cannabis and trace of cocaine in system

A 19-YEAR-OLD motorist has been banned from driving for 20 months after being caught with cannabis in his system.

Tristan Kraus was stopped after police saw his Audi A3 travelling above the speed limit. Officers noticed a strong smell of cannabis and carried out a roadside drugs swipe, which tested positive.

Subsequent blood tests showed Kraus, of The Maudlins, Broadwell Hayes, Tenby, had 3.8mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2. A trace of cocaine was also detected, though this was below the prescribed legal threshold.

Appearing before District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest magistrates court this week, Kraus pleaded guilty to drug-driving.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court: “His vehicle, an Audi A3, was seen travelling in excess of the speed limit. Smelling cannabis emanating from the vehicle, officers carried out a roadside drugs swipe which proved positive.”

Kraus’s solicitor, Tom Lloyd, said the trace of cocaine was the residue of a quantity taken at a festival some ten days before his arrest. “He thought it would have been out of his system by this time,” he said.

Mr Lloyd added that Kraus had been grieving the loss of a grandparent at the time of the offence and had also been caring for his mother and younger sister. “His mother had an accident last year which required surgery and left her bed bound for four months. Tristan has been a tremendous source of support to her throughout this time, as well as to his younger sister.”

Judge Layton imposed a 12-month community order requiring Kraus to complete ten rehabilitation activity requirement days and 80 hours of unpaid work. He was also banned from driving for 20 months and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £114 surcharge.

Crime

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

6 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

7 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.