A WOMAN was arrested in Haverfordwest after police found thousands of pounds in cash and a large quantity of cannabis concealed in a safe under her bed.

Samantha Whelton, aged 39, was stopped by officers on October 25 while carrying a Tesco carrier bag containing £3,000 in cash. The money, made up of £10 and £20 notes, was discovered during her arrest in the town.

Prosecutor Brian Simpson told the court Whelton claimed the cash was savings she intended to use to buy a car.

Following her arrest, Dyfed-Powys Police searched Whelton’s home on Heol Derwen, Merlin’s Bridge. During the search, officers discovered a “bag for life” underneath her bed containing a safe which smelled strongly of cannabis.

Inside the safe were 688 grams of cannabis, with an estimated street value of up to £4,200. Police also seized four mobile phones and four tablet devices from the property.

During interview, Whelton maintained the cash had come from benefits savings and gambling winnings. She denied ownership of the safe and suggested someone else must have placed it in her home, claiming she had left her back door unlocked.

Whelton later pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply. A separate charge of possession of criminal property was not pursued by the prosecution.

The court heard Whelton has four previous convictions for six offences. In June last year, she received a suspended sentence for possession with intent to supply cocaine and obstructing police.

Defence solicitor Emily Bennett said Whelton’s early guilty plea should be treated as significant mitigation.

“She has taken responsibility for her actions and deeply regrets what she has done,” she told the court. “This defendant struggles with substance misuse.”

Ms Bennett also said Whelton is the primary carer for her teenage child and highlighted the impact of imprisonment, noting that any custodial sentence would mean serving time a considerable distance from home due to the lack of women’s prisons in Wales.

Judge Catherine Richards sentenced Whelton to 12 months, and activated 10 months her suspended sentence to run consecutively.

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing will be heard in April 2026.

A RADIOLOGY nurse at Hywel Dda University Health Board has been recognised at this year’s Chief Nursing Officer’s Conference in Cardiff.

Angharad Hanbury, Lead Radiology Nurse at the Health Board, was presented with a Nursing Excellence Award by Sue Tranka, the Chief Nursing Officer for Wales.

The award recognises Angharad’s leadership and contribution to improving patient care and services within radiology since she took up the post in 2023.

During her time in the role, Angharad has successfully secured recognition for radiology departments as approved placement areas for student nurses. She has also played a key role in developing important clinical pathways and protocols, including those for diagnostic coronary angiograms and the standard operating procedure for temporary pacemakers.

In addition, she has led a pilot scheme introducing a standardised approach to nursing documentation through the development of the radiology nurse record.

Sharon Daniel, Director of Nursing, Quality and Patient Experience at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “On behalf of the Health Board, I congratulate Angharad on this prestigious award and thank her for all she has done — and continues to do — to improve patient care and radiology services.”

Angharad said she was grateful for the recognition.

“I am incredibly grateful to be recognised for the work I have done, and I will continue to work on radiology service improvements alongside my radiology colleagues,” she said.

Sarah Procter, Deputy Head of Radiology at the Health Board, added: “I am delighted that Angharad has received this award. She exemplifies the qualities of an exceptional nursing leader, and I am proud that her work for our patients, staff and the radiology service has been recognised.”

POLICE say 27 ATMs were targeted in a series of raids spanning five regions since February.

Three people have been charged as part of an investigation into a series of cash machine raids across the Midlands and Wales.

David Price, aged 43, of Blakenhall, Adam Walker, 38, of Moseley, and Joanne McGregor, 40, of Wednesfield – all in Wolverhampton – were arrested on Thursday.

The trio are accused of carrying out a number of raids since February, during which 27 cash machines were targeted and more than £300,000 was stolen across the West Midlands, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, the West Mercia Police area and Denbighshire.

All three have been charged with conspiracy to burgle, conspiracy to handle stolen goods and possession of criminal property.

Police said 14 of the 27 raids were successful. One of those involved a raid on the Santander branch on Stourbridge High Street on June 25, when a cash box was taken.

Two further suspects have been released on bail while the investigation continues.