News

Haverfordwest: Synthetic cocaine pair sentenced

Published

9 years ago

January 17, 2015

Admitted offences: Pleas were changed at the last minute

TWO Pembrokeshire men who continued to deal in a “legal high” even after it had been classified as illegal have been sentenced today at Swansea Crown Court.

Kevin Firth, who once ran the Pembs PC computer shops in Haverfordwest and Pembroke, and Daniel Cobbinah had been due to stand trial before a jury charged with possessing APB, a drug incorporating benzofuran, with intent to supply, but changed their pleas to guilty at the last moment.

Robin Rouch, prosecuting, said the men began dealing when APB was considered to be a “legal high.” But in June, 2013, the Home Office placed the drug on a prohibited list making it a class B drug, “and they would have known immediately about the ban.”

They may have continued to deal the synthetic cocaine, added Mr Rouch, partly because of the investment they had made in expensive machinery to produce it.

Today’s ruling included the confiscation of a sophisticated pill press found at a company called Pier Engineering.

Mr Rouch said police searched Cobbinah’s home at Flat 5, 15 High Street, Haverfordwest, and found a black bag in a bedroom containing the ingredients necessary to make APB.

He said it was difficult to estimate the value of the drug, but it could have been as high as £3,500.

They also found another high known as Diet Coke, which was still legal, plus weighing scales.

Mr Rouch said at Firth’s home at The Green, Tenby, officers found a stainless steel funnel which could be connected with the pill making machine.

Firth, he added, had spent sometime in jail after his arrest as he was recalled to prison for previous drug related offending.

Judge Paul Thomas said he accepted that at some stage APB had been considered legal.

But he warned Firth, aged 45, and Cobbinah, 43, that when people became involved in the supply of drugs “things happen to them.”

Firth and Cobbinah were made the subject of 12 month community orders. Firth was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work for the community and Cobbinah 80 hours.

Both will also pay £60 government surcharges.

Crime

Police investigating attempted burglary at Haverfordwest shop

Published

53 mins ago

May 1, 2024

Tom Sinclair

POLICE in Pembrokeshire are investigating an attempted burglary at No.37 Food and Wine shop on High Street, Haverfordwest, at about 3am on Wednesday, April 3.

A window was smashed and the door handle broken.

Police said: “If you have any information that could help enquiries, please get in touch with PC 195 Tayler, either by: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

“Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.”

News

Don’t forget to vote on Thursday, May 2

Published

1 hour ago

May 1, 2024

Luke Sinclair

THURSDAY, May 2 is your chance to vote for the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner.

Don’t forget to use your vote and head to your local polling station between 7am and 10pm.

They are elected by the public to hold Chief Constables and the police force to account on their behalf.

A Police and Crime Commissioner’s job is to set the police budget and make sure it is spent effectively, appoint the local police forces Chief Constables, set police and crime plans in collaboration with residents and work closely with the local council and other organisations on these plans.

This is the first election in Wales where you will need photographic ID to vote.

Accepted forms of ID include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport or drivers’ licence; and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.

Or you may have applied for a Voter Authority Certificate which is also accepted.

If you plan on taking your Postal Vote to a polling station or County Hall main reception remember to fill in a vote return form. Without the completed form those postal vote(s) will be rejected.

You can only hand in your own postal vote, and postal votes for up to five other people.

You can find out more about the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections online (opens in new window).

Crime

Banned for sleeping in car whilst over the drink drive limit

Published

2 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Court Reporter

A MOTORIST caught sleeping in a BMW in MIiford Haven town centre has appeared before magistrates for being in charge of a motor vehicle when he was over the legal alcohol limit.

Police officers discovered John Steele, 30, soon after 5.30pm on March 9 when he was asleep in his red BMW which was parked in a car park at Hamilton Terrace.

“The engine was running and the lights were on,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told District Judge Mark Layton who was sitting at Haverfordwest magistrates court this week.

“Officers smelt alcohol, he was intoxicated and he was slurring his words.”

Officers were unable to carry out a roadside breath test as a result of them not being in possession of a breathalyser at the scene of the incident. Steele was conveyed to a police custody suite where two samples of breath were subsequently taken, the lowest giving a reading of 44 mcg.

Steele, who is employed as a machine technician in Selby, pleaded guilty to the charge of being in charge of a motor vehicle while he was above the alcohol limit.

He was fined £400 and ordered to pay a £160 court surcharge and £85 costs. His licence was endorsed with ten penalty points.