Officer struck after public raised concerns

A COURT has heard how police were called to a Pembrokeshire railway station after members of the public witnessed a couple assaulting each other in full view of passengers.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court was told that the incident took place at Tenby Railway Station on Tuesday (July 16), where a man and woman were seen physically assaulting one another.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan said: “Complaints were made by members of the public and, when officers arrived, they attempted to speak with the couple.”

During the encounter, Jane Roberts, aged 47, apologised to officers for what she was about to do before striking out with her right hand, which connected with an officer’s right shoulder.

Magistrates heard that Roberts then had to be physically restrained and placed into a police vehicle by two officers.

Roberts, of Marshall Road, Monkton, pleaded guilty to assaulting a constable in the execution of her duty. She was represented in court by solicitor Alaw Harries.

Ms Harries told the court: “This was a highly charged incident. Her partner had been arrested, and she acted impulsively.

“This has been a wake-up call for her. She has significantly reduced her alcohol intake and now has a much more positive attitude. She is determined not to appear before the courts again.”

Roberts was given a 12-month conditional discharge. She was also ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £26 surcharge.

Cocaine derivative found over legal limit

A PROVISIONAL licence holder has been ordered off the roads after being caught driving with the cocaine derivative benzoylecgonine in his system.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that David Daley, aged 45, was stopped by police on Friday (Sept 20) after officers noticed him driving a Peugeot along Steynton Road, Milford Haven, without valid insurance.

Subsequent roadside and evidential tests confirmed that Daley had 240 micrograms of benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50 micrograms.

Daley, of Milton House, Murray Road, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to drug-driving, driving without third-party insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for 12 months and fined him £120. He was also ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £48 surcharge.

His driving licence was endorsed with six penalty points.

Hundreds heard racist obscenities in town centre

A COURT has heard how members of the public were subjected to verbal obscenities and racial harassment directed at a police officer in the centre of one of Pembrokeshire’s busiest tourist towns.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court was told that on Thursday (Aug 8), hundreds of people visiting Tenby witnessed Jay Thomas shouting abuse at PC Stuart Gray.

The officer was subjected to a torrent of obscenities, including being called “a Scottish c***”, while Thomas also threatened that he would “stab the s*** out of him”.

Magistrates heard that Thomas’ behaviour continued after his arrest. While being conveyed to custody, he spat inside the rear of the police vehicle and, once placed in a cell, pushed a blanket down the toilet, causing damage.

A subsequent search of the defendant revealed that he was in possession of 0.7 grams of cocaine.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, PC Gray said: “I don’t expect to be threatened or called a Scottish c*** when I’m doing my job.

“I was also embarrassed for all the holidaymakers who had to listen to his language and witness his behaviour.”

Thomas, aged 21, of Newell Hill, Tenby, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment of PC Gray, causing criminal damage to a police vehicle and a police blanket, possession of cocaine, and using threatening, abusive and insulting words and behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

He was represented by solicitor Alaw Harries, who told the court that the defendant was “deeply ashamed” of his conduct.

She said: “The offences were fuelled by alcohol and he has little memory of what happened. He is deeply ashamed and now wants to work with probation to address the issues behind his behaviour.”

Thomas was sentenced to a 12-month community order, during which he must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and comply with a 90-day alcohol monitoring requirement.

He was also ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 in costs. A forfeiture and destruction order was made in respect of the cocaine.