Crime
Scaffolder banned from road after cocaine drug-drive offence
A PEMBROKESHIRE scaffolder has been banned from driving after being caught with cocaine in his system while on his way to work.
Alex Williams, 41, was stopped by police on the morning of November 3, 2025, as he drove his Peugeot 207 along the A4076 at Dredgemans Hill, Haverfordwest.
A roadside drug swipe proved positive. Subsequent blood tests showed he had 133 micrograms of benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50.
The court heard other drugs were also detected, but all were below the legal limit.
Probation officer Julie Norman told magistrates: “He’d been to a party the weekend before where he’d consumed some cocaine.
“He was stopped by officers on Monday morning as he drove to his place of work in Waterston. But now, as a result of the offence, he is unsure whether he will be able to remain in his employment.”
Williams, of Summerhill, Keeston, was represented by solicitor Fenn Richards, who said the offence came at a time of increasing anxiety over his health.
“There’s a defective gene in his family which increases the risk of gastric cancer,” said Ms Richards.
“The defendant found out he had this gene just a few months before the offence. Several of his family members have passed away as a result of the gene, and naturally this has had a great impact on his mental health, which is why he consumed the cocaine.”
Williams was sentenced to a 12-month community order. He must complete ten rehabilitation activity requirement days and 100 hours of unpaid work.
He was also disqualified from driving for 17 months and ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.
Crime
Man remanded in custody after admitting abuse offences
Paul Davies, 64, pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour, sending menacing messages and causing £500 damage to a woman’s television in Pennar
A 64-YEAR-OLD man has appeared before magistrates charged with threatening and abusive behaviour towards a woman in Pennar.
Paul Davies, aged 64, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week by video link from HM Swansea Prison, where he has been remanded in custody since his arrest.
Davies admitted using threatening, abusive and insulting words and behaviour towards the woman. He also pleaded guilty to sending indecent, offensive, obscene and menacing messages by an electronic communications network, and to causing £500 of criminal damage to her television.
The offences took place between March 31 and April 2.
Sentencing was adjourned until April 28 to allow the probation service to prepare a pre-sentence report.
Crime
Driver denies injuring dog walker and elects Crown Court trial
Harry Sutton-Brown, 28, is accused of causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving in Penally
A MOTORIST has elected for a Crown Court trial after being charged with causing serious injury to a dog walker in Penally.
Harry Sutton-Brown, aged 28, is accused of causing serious injury to Joanne Morris by careless or inconsiderate driving on Village Road, Penally.
Haverfordwest magistrates heard this week that the prosecution alleges Sutton-Brown struck Ms Morris on November 22, 2024, as he negotiated a bend in his Hyundai i30.
However, his solicitor said the complainant had been walking “three abreast” with two other people while exercising a dog.
“As the defendant came around the bend, the pedestrians were walking across the road in the central reservation,” his solicitor told the court.
“The defendant was blinded by the sun and he didn’t see the pedestrians in the middle of the road.”
Sutton-Brown, of Boars Head Bridge, Templeton, elected for trial at Swansea Crown Court.
The case will next be before the Crown Court on May 8.
He was released on unconditional bail.
Crime
Questions raised as 81-year-old woman faces ‘failure to provide’ case
Defence solicitor tells Haverfordwest magistrates his client was medically unable to provide a breath sample and should have been offered an alternative test
QUESTIONS have been raised over whether the interests of justice are being served after an 81-year-old motorist was charged with failing to provide a breath specimen for analysis.
Kate Telford appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week after being listed for trial following her arrest on March 1.
The court heard that she was taken to Haverfordwest police station and asked to provide a breath sample. When she failed to co-operate, she was charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis.
But her solicitor, Michael Kelleher, challenged the conduct of police officers during the incident, arguing that his client was physically unable to complete the test.
“The prosecution claims this was a deliberate failure to provide a breath sample, but the defendant has a growth in her mouth, a heart issue and her breathing isn’t sufficient to allow her to breathe into a breathalyser machine,” he said.
“All this information can be obtained from her doctors.
“The day she was arrested, the police should have provided her with an alternative method – a nurse was available to take blood, and there was also the option of a urine test. But basically, the police didn’t believe her and thought she was putting it all on. Even her request to sit on a chair was refused.
“This woman has no experience of criminal law, she has no previous convictions and she didn’t know how to argue her own case. Previous appeals have been refused in the interests of justice, but surely the interests of justice aren’t being met by failing to grant an appeal.”
After retiring to consider the submissions, the Bench refused Mr Kelleher’s application to appeal against the indictment.
“We have carefully considered the appeal before us and have gone through each of the five grounds,” said the presiding magistrate.
“We find that none of the factors apply to this case, therefore the appeal fails.”
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