Llandissilio man, 77, was more than one-and-a-half times the legal limit, court hears

A PEMBROKESHIRE farmer has been disqualified from driving after being caught drink-driving from his local pub.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard police were contacted on the night of Friday (July 4, 2025) with concerns that Russell Llewellyn, 77, had left The Angel pub in Llandissilio after drinking alcohol and driven away in a Mitsubishi Outlander.

“The caller claimed the defendant was so drunk he couldn’t speak,” prosecutor Dennis Davies told the court after Llewellyn pleaded guilty to driving while over the limit.

“He’d seemed totally out of it.”

Officers traced Llewellyn to his home address at Ty Uchaf, Llandissilio, where he admitted drinking around an hour earlier, the court heard.

A breath test showed 55 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Llewellyn was represented by solicitor Jess Hill, who told the court he relied on his vehicle to run his farm.

“He has a long farming career but now, as his mobility is slowing, he relies heavily on his vehicle to continue farming,” she said. “He also leads a fairly isolated life, so he needs his car to socialise.”

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

Pensioner denies assault and criminal damage charges ahead of trial in February

A 71-year-old Pembrokeshire woman has appeared before magistrates accused of assaulting her local butcher and urinating in a police vehicle.

Barbara Lewis, of High Street, St Davids, is charged with assault by beating following an incident involving butcher Harry Raymond in the city last June.

Prosecutor Dennis Davies told Haverfordwest magistrates there had been concerns about the behaviour of a dog before the pair became involved in an altercation.

“They took hold of each other and Barbara Lewis bit Harry Raymond on his left arm, just below his elbow,” he said.

The court heard the bite is alleged to have cut through the skin and left a mark.

Mr Davies added that after Lewis was arrested and placed in a police van, she allegedly urinated on the floor, leading to a further charge of criminal damage.

Lewis denied both offences. Her trial is due to take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Feb 26). She was released on unconditional bail.

Police stop on A40 near Haverfordwest ended in violent struggle and knife discovery

A MAN who sprayed an unidentified red substance at a police officer — and appeared unaffected by repeated Taser deployments — has been sentenced following a dramatic arrest near Haverfordwest.

Mark Logan, 41, was stopped by police on Friday (Nov 1) after officers saw him driving an Audi onto the A40 from Haverfordwest. PC Dylan Davies activated his blue lights after checks showed the vehicle was registered in a woman’s name, bringing the car to a stop close to the Toyota garage.

What followed, the court heard, left the officer fearing for his safety.

In a victim impact statement read to Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, PC Davies said he was sprayed several times with a red substance and did not know what it was or what harm it could cause.

“I had no idea what it was nor what harm it would do to me,” he said.

“After being a police officer for four years, this was the first time I have ever had to request assistance.”

The court heard Logan got out of the car and immediately appeared wide-eyed and unsteady on his feet. As PC Davies attempted to arrest him, Logan struck the officer’s hands, preventing him from taking hold.

“He became more aggressive and I was fearful he was going to assault me due to his erratic behaviour,” PC Davies said.

Logan then walked towards the officer and sprayed him, with PC Davies saying he felt the substance land on his body and believed Logan intended to harm him.

“He remained incredibly hostile and I didn’t know what other weapons he had on him,” he added.

Taser had ‘no effect’

PC Davies drew his Taser and repeatedly told Logan to get on the ground, but Logan ran towards the Toyota garage. The officer said he “red-dotted” Logan and continued to issue commands, but he ignored them.

When Logan then turned and walked back towards the officer, PC Davies deployed his Taser. However, he told the court it appeared to have no effect.

“But he appeared totally unbothered and began pulling at the Taser wires,” he said.

“I re-engaged it and Tasered him again, instructing him to lie face-down on the ground, but again he refused. The Taser had no effect on him whatsoever.”

A further attempt to restrain Logan using physical contact also failed, and additional officers were called to assist. They succeeded in bringing him to the ground and handcuffing him.

Knife found in jacket pocket

Logan later confirmed during a police interview that he had a knife on him. A search found a black locking knife in his jacket pocket, with a blade measuring 10cm.

PC Davies suffered facial irritation from the spray and “overwhelming” pain to his arm as a result of the incident.

Logan, of Glandwr House, Lower Cwmtwrch, Swansea, pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place and assaulting an emergency worker by beating.

He was represented by solicitor Alaw Harries, who told the court Logan was attempting to deal with a number of mental health issues, including paranoia, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and psychotic tendencies.

“This man has become a shadow of his former self as a result of his mental health needs,” she said.

“He fully accepts that his behaviour was unacceptable, and has already taken significant and pro-active steps to address his mental health. He is now desperate to engage with the mental health services to help him address these issues.”

Ms Harries said the red spray used by Logan was a self-defence device which can be legally purchased online, including via Amazon.

Sentence and orders

Magistrates retired for more than an hour before returning to pass sentence.

Logan was given a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. He must observe a daily curfew between 7:00pm and 7:00am and complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He was ordered to pay £250 compensation to PC Dylan Davies, along with a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs. A destruction order was imposed on the knife.