Crime

Plumber keeps licence after being found asleep at wheel in Haverfordwest car park

Published

2 months ago

January 21, 2026

Ben John, 33, was discovered in a running car at Bridge Meadow and later gave a breath test reading of 74mcg, magistrates heard

A PEMBROKESHIRE plumber has kept his driving licence after police found him asleep behind the wheel of his car while over the legal alcohol limit.

Officers discovered Ben John, 33, in a red Mini at around 5:00am on December 27, as they carried out an unrelated search at Bridge Meadow car park, Haverfordwest.

“The keys were in the ignition, the engine was on and a can of Fosters could be seen in the cup holder,” Crown Prosecutor Dennis Davies told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“The officers could also see the defendant slumped over in the driver’s seat.”

Mr Davies said that when officers knocked on the window, John pressed his foot on the accelerator, causing the engine to rev. A breath test carried out at the police station later showed he had 74mcg of alcohol in his system.

John pleaded guilty to being in charge of a motor vehicle while above the legal alcohol limit. He was represented by solicitor Alaw Harries, who said her client accepted full responsibility.

“It was a cold night and he made the poor decision to get in the vehicle, turn the heating on and fall asleep,” she said.

Ms Harries described John as a “reliable and dedicated” plumber and warned that a disqualification would have serious consequences for his work and others who rely on him.

“A disqualification today would not only jeopardise his own employment, but also the employment of others, including an apprentice who he drives to work on a daily basis,” she said. “We have here a genuine, hard-working individual, who’s reflected on this offence and won’t place himself in this position ever again.”

John, of Priory Avenue, Haverfordwest, was fined £433 and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £173 surcharge. His licence was endorsed with ten penalty points.

Crime

Driver caught with three illegal drugs in system on way to MOT test

Published

8 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Tenby stop check revealed cocaine and cannabis in motorist’s blood

ATTEMPTS to take his vehicle for its annual MOT has backfired after the vehicle’s owner was found to be driving with a cocktail of illegal drugs in his system.

Bradley Bostock, 27, was stopped by officers on December 16 as he drove his Ford Fiesta along Heywood Lane, Tenby.

But further investigations by officers confirmed he had 108 mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system together with 17 mcg of cocaine and 2.4 mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol. The legal limits are 50, 10 and 2 respectively.

“There’s no detail of the rationale behind why he was stopped, but three drugs were noted in his blood,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan when Bostock appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

Bostock pleaded guilty to three charges of drug driving and was represented in court by Jess Hill.

“He was taking his vehicle to Tenby for an MOT that day but was stopped by officers for a stop check,” she said.

“He’s from Yorkshire and often feels isolated here as he has no family and uses drugs to help deal with his loneliness.”

Bostock, of Corston Cottages, Axton Hill, Pembroke was sentenced to a 12 month community order during which he must complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 90 hours of unpaid work.

He was disqualified from driving for 17 months and ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Father-of-three ordered to pay for bus stop damage after drinking binge

Published

8 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Blood trail led police from damaged shelter to defendant’s home

A FATHER-OF-THREE had admitted carrying out over £500 worth of damage to a bus stop after a drinking binge in Milford town centre.

A blood trail led officers from the bus stop to Hawthorn Way, to the home of Hayden Dimond.

This week Dimond, 31, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates where he admitted the criminal damage offence.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan informed magistrates that the damage caused to the bus stop totalled £530.60.

“The defendant accepted responsibility in his police interview and pointed them in the direction of the damaged bus stop,” Diamond’s solicitor, Jess Hill, informed the Bench.

“At the time he was highly intoxicated and acted upon impulse.

“He had problems with binge drinking but now rarely consumes alcohol, but whenever he does, it’s monitored so he remains on an acceptable level.”

“What happened that night was not intentional.”

Dimond, Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, was ordered to pay £530 compensation to Pembrokeshire County Council and was fined £40. He must also pay £85 court costs and a £16 surcharge.

Crime

Driver banned after cocaine found in system during A40 stop check

Published

8 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Motorist told court he had taken drugs the night before socialising with friends

A DRUG DRIVER who was arrested during a routine stop check was this week ordered off the roads for 12 months.

A stop check carried out on Dean Browne as he drove his Volvo V50 along the A40 at Slebech last December prompted officers to carry out a roadside drugs swipe. When it proved positive, further blood tests were carried out at the police station which showed that Browne had 240 mcg of the cocaine metabolism benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50.

Browne, who has no previous convictions, accepted that he’d taken cocaine the night before whilst socialising with friends.

“He is sorry for his actions and understands now that the drug can remain in the system for some time,” said his solicitor Jess Hill, after Browne pleaded guilty to the drug-driving offence when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

In addition to the 12-month driving ban, Browne, of Horeb Road, Mynydd y Garreg, Kidwelly, was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.