Pure cocaine found in van with faulty light

Published

10 years ago

February 16, 2016

Swansea Crown Court

POLICE who stopped a van in Aberaeron because it had a faulty light found a fugitive on the run, cocaine worth £21,000, £2,700 in cash and a banned driver.

Philip Malcolm Robinson, aged 43, had just bought 54 grams of cocaine at an “importation” level of purity.

Robinson admitted possessing the drugs but denied intending to sell them on. He was found guilty unanimously after a trial at Swansea Crown Court.

The jury heard how police stopped a Vauxhall van on the A487 on April 16 last year.

Robinson gave a false name but officers decided to search the van.

They found 54 grams of cocaine at a purity level of 70% which could have fetched £21,600 on the streets.

They also discovered Robinson’s real name and that he had absconded before he could be sentenced for an offence of wounding.

And he was banned from driving.

Mr Ibrahim said the £2,700 appeared to belong to Robinson’s passenger.

Robinson told the jury he had bought drugs from a dealer in Aberaeron because he knew it would be “good stuff.”

He said he had paid £600 for the drugs but still owed the dealer a further £2,000.

Robinson claimed he would have snorted the drug at 70% strength but DC Rhodri Treharne said users usually consumed cocaine at between 5% and 17% purity.

Robinson, from Rumney in Cardiff, said he bought from a dealer in Aberaeron because his partner lived in Newcastle Emlyn and he would combine a drugs run with a visit to her.

After the guilty verdict, Robinson was jailed for three years.

Judge Paul Thomas told him he had known the risks involved.

“You knew you would go to prison for a long time if you were caught.

“You took a gamble and it did not come off. Obviously, you thought the risk was worth it and now you have to pay for it,” he added.

Hakin motorist banned after driving 14 times over drug limit

Published

48 minutes ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A HAKIN motorist has been banned from driving for three years after being caught behind the wheel with cocaine and benzoylecgonine in his system.

Mark Briskham, 53, of Waterloo Square, Wellington Road, Hakin, was stopped by police on January 5 as he drove a Ford Kuga along Steynton Road, near Milford Haven.

Blood tests carried out at the police station showed he had 800mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

He also had 64mcg of cocaine in his system. The legal limit is 10mcg.

Briskham pleaded guilty to two drug-driving charges when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for three years, taking into account a previous drug-drive conviction from 2020.

He was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.cr

Begelly man remanded over alleged May Day assault

Published

50 minutes ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been remanded in custody following an alleged May Day assault against a woman in Begelly.

Tomas Baker, 34, of Ty Dee, New Road, Begelly, is accused of assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, at an undisclosed location in Begelly on May 1.

Baker appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week by video link from Swansea Prison.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His trial will take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on June 22.

Waterston man denies child rape and sexual assault charges

Published

1 hour ago

June 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A WATERSTON man has appeared before magistrates charged with 13 sexual offences against children, including three allegations of raping a girl under the age of 13.

Chaisee Price, 25, of Biggins Hill, Waterston, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

He faces three charges of raping a girl under 13, eight charges of sexually assaulting girls aged between five and eight, and two charges of intentionally inciting girls under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2014 and 2019.

Price denied all charges.

Because of the seriousness of the allegations, magistrates declined jurisdiction and the case will now proceed to Swansea Crown Court on July 10.

Price was released on conditional bail.

The conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 6:00pm and 6:00am, no contact with the prosecution witness, no unsupervised contact with children under 18, and a requirement to surrender his passport to police.