Motorist told police he had drunk heavily in early hours before being stopped in High Street

A MOTORIST who was almost three times over the drink-drive limit was seen speeding through Neyland High Street before being stopped by police, magistrates have heard.

Christopher Harper, 47, of Strongbow Walk, Pembroke, was seen leaving the marina car park at around 10:00am on March 26 while driving a Nissan Juke.

Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week that the vehicle had earlier been seen parked in the lower marina car park.

“The driver appeared to be under the influence of something and seemed incapable of driving,” she said.

Officers watched as the vehicle pulled out of the car park and travelled at speed towards the High Street.

“The officers activated their blue lights and the vehicle finally came to a stop at the top of the High Street,” she said.

When spoken to by police, Harper admitted he had consumed a large amount of alcohol at around 2:00am that morning.

He gave a positive roadside breath test and was arrested. Further breath tests carried out at the police station showed he had 98 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Harper pleaded guilty to the drink-driving charge and represented himself in court.

“It was stupid and I shouldn’t have done what I did,” he told magistrates in mitigation.

Because of the high alcohol reading, magistrates adjourned sentencing until April 16 so that a probation report can be prepared.

Harper was released on unconditional bail, and an interim driving ban was imposed pending sentence.

Court hears defendant had taken drug days before funeral of partner’s grandfather

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been banned from the roads after police found cocaine in his system during a roadside stop-check.

Jacob Payne, 27, of Back Lane, Haverfordwest, was stopped by officers carrying out checks at St Thomas Green at around 4:30pm on December 4.

Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week that officers could smell cannabis coming from inside the vehicle.

“When spoken to, the defendant admitted taking an illegal drug a few days prior to being stopped,” she said.

A roadside drugs wipe tested positive for cocaine. Further blood analysis later showed the lowest benzoylecgonine reading was 96 microgrammes per litre of blood. The legal limit is 50.

Payne pleaded guilty to drug-driving.

His solicitor, Jess Hill, told the court the offence took place on the same day as his partner’s grandfather’s funeral.

“It was an emotional day all round,” she said.

“He’d taken cocaine whilst socialising a few days before and doesn’t often use it. But he’s easily influenced by others, and this was why he took it.”

Magistrates disqualified Payne from driving for 38 months.

He was also fined £120 and ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 in costs.

In addition, Payne was made subject to a 12-month community order during which he must complete ten rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Magistrates hear Pembroke Dock man threatened worker and was later banned from the store

A MAN has been banned from Tesco in Pembroke Dock after hurling abuse at a female security guard and shoving her in the chest, magistrates have heard.

Alexander Clark, 49, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week, where CCTV footage of the incident on February 5 was shown.

Prosecutor Linda Baker said Clark strode up to the security guard, poked her in the chest and nudged her with his left shoulder.

“He also began shouting at her, calling her a stupid c***,” she told the court.

“He said, ‘Your dad’s a rapist and you know what we do to them? We kill them.’”

In mitigation, Clark’s solicitor, Alaw Harries, said the defendant did not know the security guard and described the assault as being at the lower end of the scale.

“The CCTV footage demonstrates this was a very low-level assault and no injuries were caused to the complainant,” she said.

“It was a poke and a shove and the force used was very limited.

“But the defendant is extremely sorry for his behaviour that day.”

The court heard that Clark, who is of no fixed abode, has since been banned from the Tesco store as a result of the incident.

Clark pleaded guilty to assaulting the security guard by beating and to using threatening and abusive words and behaviour.

He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £50 compensation to the security guard, £85 in court costs and a £48 surcharge.

Sentencing him, the presiding magistrate said: “What you said to that lady was completely inappropriate, particularly when she was at work doing her job.

“Don’t do it again.”