Officers say weapon could be made operational despite claims it was obsolete

A MAN has been sentenced after police discovered a revolver and ammunition at his property despite him not holding a firearms certificate.

Magistrates sitting at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that officers attended Nicholas Anderson’s address on suspicion he was involved in drug supply.

During a search of an upstairs bedroom, they found a .320 calibre double-action revolver along with three bullets.

Prosecutor Nia James told the court that Anderson, aged 36, later claimed during interview that the weapon no longer worked and was obsolete.

“But when it was recovered, officers could see the spring had been taken out but could be adapted to become fully operational once again,” she said.

The court heard the revolver measured 15.6cm in length, with a 7.9cm barrel.

“It had component parts of a firearm and is subsequently a prohibited weapon,” Ms James added.

Anderson, who is currently serving a custodial sentence for an unrelated drug conviction, pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm without a certificate.

Defence solicitor Alaw Harries said there was no suggestion the weapon had ever been used in criminal activity.

“There is no evidence to suggest the gun has ever been used in any crime,” she said.

“It was obtained prior to changes in the law and the defendant believed it was completely non-functioning. As far as he was concerned, he thought it was incapable of ever working again.”

Anderson, who is of no fixed address, was fined £40 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £16 surcharge.

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Court hears driver ‘unwittingly’ consumed drug at party before being stopped by police

A MOTORIST has told magistrates he ended up over the drug-drive limit after unknowingly eating food containing cannabis at a party.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that on October 25, Kerne Spiralson, aged 32, attended a gathering at an undisclosed location in north Pembrokeshire where he helped himself to a selection of food.

However, the court was told that one of the items had been prepared with cannabis, something Spiralson said he was unaware of at the time.

Later that evening, as he drove his Mazda 3 home along the Llanfyrnach–Tegryn road, he was stopped by police and subjected to a roadside drugs test.

The swipe test proved positive and subsequent analysis showed he had 7.8 micrograms of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in his system. The legal limit is 2 micrograms.

Spiralson, of Pencraig, Llandysul, pleaded guilty to drug-driving.

Defence solicitor Fenn Richards told magistrates that because the cannabis had been consumed unknowingly within food, the case involved special circumstances which may allow the court to consider avoiding the mandatory driving disqualification.

Magistrates adjourned the case for sentencing, which will take place on March 26.

Spiralson was released on unconditional bail.

Blood tests showed level nearly five times the legal threshold

A MOTORIST who admitted taking cocaine to try to ease ongoing leg pain has been banned from driving after being caught over the drug-drive limit in Pembrokeshire.

Richard Smith, aged 41, was stopped by police on the night of October 6 while driving his Skoda Enyaq along Pope Hill in Johnston.

Officers carried out a roadside drugs test which proved positive. Smith was arrested and taken to the police station, where blood analysis later revealed 236 micrograms of benzoylecgonine – a cocaine metabolite – in his system. The legal limit is 50.

Smith pleaded guilty to drug-driving when he appeared before magistrates at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.

Defence solicitor Fenn Richards said her client had travelled to Milford Haven to support a family member.

“His nephew had been having a hard time with depression, so he came down to spend some time with him,” she said.

“But the defendant had recently suffered a car accident and had run out of painkillers while he was in the area. He turned to cocaine to help relieve his pain.”

The court heard Smith had taken the drug around five days before driving and had not realised it could remain detectable in his system for that length of time.

Magistrates disqualified Smith, of Walnut Way, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, from driving for 14 months.

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