Court told defendant did not appreciate failure to attend was a criminal offence

A MONKTON man has been sentenced for failing to attend an initial drugs assessment after a previous sample showed he had cocaine in his system.

Luke Probert, 37, of Long Meadow, Adams Road, Monkton, was requested to attend the assessment on February 19 to establish whether he was dependent on the Class A drug.

But his failure to show up resulted in his appearance before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week, where he pleaded guilty to the offence.

He was represented in court by solicitor Alaw Harries, who said the defendant “didn’t appreciate this was a criminal offence”.

“He’s extremely apologetic,” she said.

Probert was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £32 surcharge.

Police said vehicle was driven at speed towards patrol car in Milford Haven

A PEMBROKESHIRE motorist has lost his licence after driving towards a police patrol car in Milford Haven while over the drink-drive limit.

Officers observed the vehicle being driven towards them in Dartmouth Street on the night of May 12.

“It was being driven at speed,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

After stopping the vehicle, officers discovered it was being driven by Nathaniel Bird, 26, of Main Street, Goodwick. A roadside breath test proved positive, while subsequent readings given at the police station showed that Bird had 41mcg of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Bird pleaded guilty to the drink-driving offence and was represented in court by solicitor Alan Lewis.

“He doesn’t accept he was speeding, but was pulled over and was fully co-operative with the officers throughout,” Mr Lewis told the court.

“He had four cans of beer at a friend’s house a few hours earlier and felt absolutely fine. He believed he was under the limit, but even though this was a very low reading, it wasn’t close enough.”

Bird was disqualified from driving for a total of 12 months. He was fined £650 and ordered to pay a £260 surcharge and £85 costs.

Police said vehicle was driven at speed towards patrol car in Milford Haven

A PEMBROKESHIRE motorist has lost his licence after driving towards a police patrol car in Milford Haven while over the drink-drive limit.

Officers observed the vehicle being driven towards them in Dartmouth Street on the night of May 12.

“It was being driven at speed,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

After stopping the vehicle, officers discovered it was being driven by Nathaniel Bird, 26, of Main Street, Goodwick. A roadside breath test proved positive, while subsequent readings given at the police station showed that Bird had 41mcg of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Bird pleaded guilty to the drink-driving offence and was represented in court by solicitor Alan Lewis.

“He doesn’t accept he was speeding, but was pulled over and was fully co-operative with the officers throughout,” Mr Lewis told the court.

“He had four cans of beer at a friend’s house a few hours earlier and felt absolutely fine. He believed he was under the limit, but even though this was a very low reading, it wasn’t close enough.”

Bird was disqualified from driving for a total of 12 months. He was fined £650 and ordered to pay a £260 surcharge and £85 costs.