Crime

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

Published

8 seconds 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

Tenby driver banned hours after passing his test for drug-driving

Published

4 minutes ago

January 21, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

JASON CALE, 40, was stopped the same day he qualified, with blood tests showing more than twice the legal cannabis limit

Just hours after passing his driving test, a Tenby man was caught driving through the town centre with more than twice the legal drug-drive limit.

Jason Cale, 40, was stopped by police at around 6:00pm on September 19 as he drove his Hyundai i20 along Upper Hill Park, Tenby. A roadside saliva test proved positive and a subsequent blood test showed 7mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2.

Appearing before Haverfordwest magistrates this week, Cale pleaded guilty to the drug-driving offence. He was represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd, who said the incident happened on the same day his client had passed his driving test.

“He’d made a big effort later in life to learn to drive and pass his test as he has a number of significant physical issues and wanted to be able to drive himself to appointments,” Mr Lloyd said. “But the very same day that he passed his test, this happened.”

The court heard Cale suffers from a debilitating joint condition and is in constant pain.

“This was why he was taking cannabis,” Mr Lloyd added. “But I’m pleased to say he’s now taken steps to address this, and has already seen the Dyfed Drugs and Alcohol Service.”

Mr Lloyd submitted medical evidence to the magistrates in support of the mitigation.

Cale, of Upper Hill Park, Tenby, was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £48 victim surcharge.

Crime

Milford Haven man banned after cannabis blood level found over legal limit

Published

6 minutes ago

January 21, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Billy Roberts, 24, told magistrates the case was a “wake-up call” after he used cannabis daily to cope with anxiety, depression and pain

A MILFORD HAVEN man who used cannabis every day to cope with anxiety and depression has described being caught drug-driving as a “wake-up call” after police stopped him and found he was over the legal limit.

Billy Roberts, 24, of Chestnut Way, Milford Haven, was pulled over on August 17. A subsequent blood test showed he had 2.2mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system – 0.2 over the legal limit of 2.

“This has been a wake-up call to the defendant as he was a daily user of cannabis to help him cope with chronic physical pain and to help him sleep,” his solicitor Jess Hill told Haverfordwest magistrates earlier this week, as Roberts pleaded guilty to the drug-driving offence.

Ms Hill said Roberts does not use any other drugs and does not drink alcohol, adding that he has contacted the Dyfed Drugs and Alcohol Service and stopped using cannabis.

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

Crime

Community carer banned after cannabis drug-drive stop

Published

27 minutes ago

January 21, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Pembroke Dock woman, 27, was just over the legal THC limit, court hears

A COMMUNITY carer has been banned from driving after being caught behind the wheel with cannabis in her system.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard Natalie John, 27, was stopped by police as she drove her Ford Fiesta along Steynton Road, Milford Haven, on the night of Friday (Sept 12, 2025).

A subsequent blood test showed 2.2 microgrammes of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per litre of blood. The legal limit is 2.

“She’d taken cannabis the night before to help with her anxiety, after receiving medication from her doctor which didn’t agree with her,” her solicitor Michael Kelleher told the court. “She had no idea she was over the limit.”

Mr Kelleher said a ban could have “disastrous implications” for John, who works as a community carer.

“Losing her licence will mean she won’t be able to drive to various locations to see her clients,” he said.

John, of Commercial Road, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to the drug-driving offence.

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