Crime

Farm worker’s 100mph cider-fuelled chase through country lanes

Published

8 months ago

October 30, 2025

A DRINK-FUELLED farm worker who tore through rural Carmarthenshire at over 100mph after downing “four or five pints of cider” has been spared jail.

Police on patrol in the Efailwen area during the early hours of August 23 spotted an Audi A6 apparently racing another car. When officers activated their blue lights, driver Matthew Walters refused to stop and instead accelerated away.

Ignoring a stop sign at the junction to the A478, Walters swerved across the road, narrowly missing an oncoming vehicle before roaring off towards Crymych.

On a stretch of road restricted to 40mph, his speed topped 100mph. Even as the limit dropped to 30mph, he continued to drive recklessly, slowing only briefly to around 70mph near Garnwen Quarry before turning off towards Glandwr, where officers lost sight of him.

Checks revealed the car had been declared off the road and its number plate had been doctored with black tape. Walters, of Llanfyrnach, had no licence and no insurance.

When police knocked on his door at 3:00am, he tried to conceal the car’s location but later admitted parking it in a field. The engine was still warm when officers found it.

At the police station, a breath test showed 36 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – just above the legal limit of 35. Walters later confessed he had been drinking cider earlier that night.

The 25-year-old admitted dangerous driving, drink driving, failing to stop, driving without a licence or insurance, and fraudulently altering a registration mark.

He already had convictions for driving offences, including using a phone at the wheel and drug-driving.

Defence barrister Emily Bennett said Walters had taken responsibility for his behaviour and sought help from substance misuse services, staying sober since the incident.

Judge Huw Rees told him: “You could easily have killed someone.”

Walters was handed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and must complete 200 hours of unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation sessions, and a 120-day alcohol monitoring requirement.

He was also banned from driving for three years and must pass an extended test before returning to the road.

Crime

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

2 days 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 days 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.