A WOMAN stole toys from a Pembrokeshire petrol station and threw them outside after being told she was not entitled to free alcohol, magistrates have heard.

Jolene Probert, 49, entered Bush Hill Service Station in Pembroke on May 28 and asked staff for alcohol which she believed she was owed.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates that when Probert was told there was no free alcohol for her, an unpleasant exchange followed.

“The defendant then walked away, placed some toys in a basket and walked outside,” said Ms Vaughan.

The toys were later recovered after being found strewn across the lawn and hedges outside the garage.

Defending, solicitor Michael Kelleher described the incident as “a rather sad case”.

“Even though she has accepted the incident, in her police interview she described it as a manic episode and said she did not know why it happened,” he told the court.

“She put some toys into her basket to give to children playing on the green, but when she realised there was no one there, she threw the toys out.”

Probert, of Shoulder of Mutton, The Green, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to theft and to failing to surrender to custody at a previous court hearing on June 23.

Mr Kelleher said she had known she was required to attend court, but had got the date wrong.

“She turned up on the wrong day,” he said.

The court was also told that Probert, who has bipolar disorder, had been receiving the wrong medication at the time of the offence.

After considering the mitigation, magistrates imposed a six-month conditional discharge.

Probert was also ordered to pay a £26 court surcharge.

Robert Seymour was three times the legal limit after police received reports of a car swerving near Pembrokeshire coastal village

A FORMER serviceman has been banned from the road after being caught driving a BMW Z4 while three times over the drink-drive limit.

Robert Seymour, 56, was seen driving between Portfield Gate and Nolton Haven at around 9.15pm on June 13 after police were alerted by a member of the public concerned about his driving.

“The Z4 had been seen swerving all over the road,” Crown prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.

Officers found the car around ten minutes later, reversing slowly out of a caravan park before moving forward.

Ms Vaughan said Seymour had removed the keys from the ignition when officers approached.

“He was very intoxicated and was slurring his words,” she said.

“There was also a very strong smell of alcohol emanating from the vehicle.”

Seymour, of Chestnut Tree Cottage, Portfield Gate, Haverfordwest, gave a positive roadside breath test and was arrested.

At the police station, he gave a lowest breath reading of 105 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Seymour pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

Defending, solicitor Michael Kelleher said Seymour had served in the military for nearly 30 years and was now employed as a public servant with the Department for Work and Pensions.

“His full-time work takes him to various centres all over Dyfed,” he said.

“This is going to have a huge effect on his life, however his employers have said that he is going to retain his job.”

Magistrates fined Seymour £750 and ordered him to pay a £300 surcharge and £85 costs, making a total of £1,135.

He was disqualified from driving for two years.

Michael Carruthers was described as “shaking and shivering” at Parc Prison before court appearance was adjourned

CONCERN was raised for a Pembroke Dock prisoner after he was unable to appear before magistrates by video link from Parc Prison.

Michael Carruthers, 34, was due to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning charged with assaulting a police officer by beating.

The alleged offence is said to have taken place in Haverfordwest on April 24.

But prison staff told the court Carruthers was not in a fit state to appear by live link from the Bridgend prison.

“After being taken out from his cell, he sat shaking and shivering on the floor and was holding his head in his hands,” a prison officer told the court.

“His head isn’t really in it.”

When asked whether Carruthers had been seen by a prison medic, prison staff confirmed he had not.

Defending, solicitor Tom Lloyd said Carruthers’ behaviour was consistent with his medical history.

“He’s appeared before this court many times before, but he’s severely autistic and has PTSD,” said Mr Lloyd.

“He has severe issues. When the prison officers described the way in which he is today, it’s clear that today came as a particular shock to him, as the first he learned of today’s court appearance was this morning.”

Mr Lloyd asked for the case to be adjourned so he could speak to Carruthers and prepare him for his next appearance.

Magistrates agreed, and the case was adjourned until July 14.

The court’s legal adviser stressed the importance of Carruthers attending the next hearing.

“People can’t hide by being in prison,” she said.

“If he’s deliberately refusing to come to court, then he must be physically brought here by the prison staff.”