56-year-old admitted making threats and using offensive language in business dispute

A MILFORD HAVEN roofer has been fined after making an abusive and threatening phone call to a rival company.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard that on Sunday (Feb 2), John Fitzgerald, 56, made a single phone call to a competing roofing business.

“During the course of the phone call, threats were made to the other company’s boss,” said Crown Prosecutor Nia James.

“The reason for the threats was that the defendant believes this other company is taking business away from him. The lady who took the call felt alarmed and distressed as he used foul language towards her.”

The court heard the victim contacted police following the incident but chose not to provide a victim impact statement and did not seek a restraining order.

“When he was spoken to by officers he said he’d been a d***,” added Nia James.

“He said he’d had a couple of beers and was getting wound up, as he was fed up with them nicking his work. But it was just one phone call.”

Representing Fitzgerald, Fenn Richards said he accepted his wrongdoing.

“He accepts wrongdoing as he’d had a few too many drinks, he made the phone call, and people were winding him up,” she said.

“The defendant has been in the roofing trade since he was 14, and he believed this person had set up a new business and was taking business away from him. But he didn’t mean any harm by it.”

Fitzgerald, of Elm Lane, Milford Haven, was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £32 surcharge.

Army veteran over limit after veering across centre line in town centre stop

A ST DAVIDS man has been disqualified from driving after being caught drink-driving in Haverfordwest town centre.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard that just after 12:30am on Monday (Mar 10), police officers saw a black Mercedes C220 pull away from a green light on Thomas Parry Way.

“As he tried to pull away the officers saw him veer over the centre line, so as a result of the manner of his driving, he was stopped,” said Crown Prosecutor Nia James.

A roadside breath test proved positive. Further breathalyser tests showed Gray had 52 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Gray, 49, of Bank House, Goat Street, St Davids, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

Representing him, Fenn Richards said he had intended to wait until he reached home before drinking.

“But after stopping in Carmarthen, he had some alcohol assuming he wouldn’t be over the limit, and then stupidly, decided to have another drink,” she said.

The court heard Gray is a former army serviceman of 13 years and is currently employed by Stena Ferries in Fishguard.

“Naturally he’s unsure how his disqualification is going to affect his employment,” added Fenn Richards.

“He’s absolutely devastated to be here today.”

Gray was disqualified from driving for 15 months. He was fined £438 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £175 surcharge.

33-year-old more than twice legal limit after losing control on bend

A WATERSTON motorist has been disqualified from driving after crashing his vehicle while more than twice the legal drink-drive limit.

Rhys Duignan, 33, was seen driving a Suzuki Baleno at Lower Scoveston, Neyland, at around 6:30pm on Friday (Mar 7).

“He was involved in a single road traffic collision when his vehicle left the road on the offside,” Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

Police attended and carried out a roadside breath test, which proved positive. Further tests at the police station gave a reading of 75 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Duignan, of Main Road, Waterston, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

Representing him, Fenn Richards said he had been dazzled by an oncoming vehicle and was unable to take a bend.

“He didn’t think he was over the legal limit at the time, but has since been to the doctor to enquire about getting help to assist with his alcohol consumption,” she said.

The court heard Duignan has also contacted the Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service since his arrest.

Duignan was disqualified from driving for 19 months. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.