News

Dropping a fag butt cost nine people hundreds of pounds

Published

7 years ago

January 17, 2019

NINE people were summonsed to Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jan 17) after being charged with dropping cigarette ends.

The charges were laid before the court because the defendants had been given tickets by the council’s new private enforcement contractor – dubbed on social media as ‘the fag butt police’ because many feel they are not targeting the more serious littering, but instead hiding in vehicles watching smokers.

The defendants were as follows:

– Rita Allen of Westgate Street in Cardiff
– Nathan Clarke of Sunningdale Drive, Milford Haven
– Elena Coman of Puffin Way, Haverfordwest
– Albert Mlynarski of Graham Street in Newport, Gwent
– Daniel Power of Observatory Avenue in Hakin, Milford Haven
– Mario Rupez of Portfield, Haverfordwest
– Eleri Territt of Richard John Road, Milford Haven
– Paul White of Williamson Street in Pembroke
– Samantha Williams of St Patricks Road in Pembroke Dock

Just two of the defendants charged attended the court. The rest were convicted in absence.

The defendants which showed up to court were fined £150, whilst the ones convicted in absence were fined £200.

All defendants had to pay a £255 prosecution costs and £30 victim surcharge.

The charges brought were under Section 87(1) and (5) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The wording on the charge sheet was that each person ‘dropped or otherwise deposited litter, namely a cigarette and left it in a place’.

Defendant Nathan Clark did offer to pick his butt up, but was told that it was too late now he had been clocked, the court heard.

Was the enforcement officer right? A good question for legal scholars would be what would happen if the defendants were seen dropping the cigarette end to stand on it and put it out, but then decided to pick it up and take it home after being clocked by the enforcement officer. Answer in the Herald next week.

Crime

Scaffolder banned after cannabis smell reported from van

Published

12 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A SCAFFOLDER has been banned from driving for 14 months after an off-duty police officer smelt cannabis coming from his Volkswagen Transporter as it travelled through Slebech.

The report was made to police at around 10.30am on February 15. When officers located the vehicle, they discovered it was being driven by 46-year-old Christopher Bennett.

Further blood tests showed Bennett had 16.8 mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2.

This week Bennett, of Queensdown Gardens, Brislington, Bristol, pleaded guilty to drug-driving when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates. He was represented in court by Alaw Harries.

“The defendant is remorseful for his actions and recognises the seriousness of the offence,” Ms Harries told the Bench.

“He suffers significant pain following operations to his shoulders and has been prescribed codeine. But this causes drowsiness, so he began self-medicating using cannabis.

“On the day of the offence, he was in worse pain than usual, so he used cannabis earlier than he normally does.”

Ms Harries said the conviction would have serious financial consequences for Bennett, who works as a self-employed scaffolder.

“His driving licence is fundamental to his livelihood,” she said.

“The financial consequences are going to be significant to him, as well as to those who are dependent on him.”

Magistrates fined Bennett £600 and ordered him to pay a £240 surcharge and £85 costs.

He was disqualified from driving for 14 months.

Crime

Estate agent banned after drug-drive crash in Milford Haven

Published

12 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Alison Walker had nearly five times the legal benzoylecgonine limit in her system

A PEMBROKESHIRE estate agent has been banned from the road after admitting driving through Milford Haven with nearly five times the legal limit of a cocaine metabolite in her system.

Alison Walker, 59, was arrested on February 2 after her white MG was involved in a two-car collision on Great North Road, Milford Haven.

“Fortunately there were no injuries, just damage to the vehicles,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

After providing a positive roadside drug swipe, Walker was arrested and asked to provide blood samples. These showed she had 240mcg of benzoylecgonine in her system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

Walker, of Woodland Crescent, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to drug-driving and was represented in court by solicitor Tom Lloyd.

He told the bench that prior to the offence, Walker had been employed as an estate agent.

“She has a good relationship with her boss, and as soon as this conviction is dealt with and her sentence has been served, he will be happy for her to return to her employment,” he said.

After considering a comprehensive probation report, magistrates disqualified Walker from driving for 20 months.

She was fined £80 and ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs. Walker must also carry out a 12-month community order, during which she must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Crime

Pembroke Dock motorist banned after driving with cocaine in system

Published

13 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Court Reporter

A PEMBROKE DOCK motorist has been banned from the roads after being caught driving with more than seven times the legal cocaine limit in her system.

Naomi Grant, 47, was stopped by police on the night of February 6 as she drove her Vauxhall Astra along the A477 near Pembroke Dock.

After providing a positive roadside drug swipe, Grant, of Cheriton Road, Pennar, Pembroke Dock, was taken for further tests.

Blood analysis showed she had 74mcg of cocaine in her system. The legal limit is 10mcg. She also had 1,200mcg of benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine, where the legal limit is 50mcg.

This week Grant, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to two charges of drug-driving when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates.

She was represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd, who told the court that his client is currently prescribed a considerable amount of medication for a number of medical issues.

“She also has her own personal assistant as a result of her medical needs,” he said.

“She has done everything that has been asked of her in relation to this offence and has engaged with the Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service to help her move forward.”

Magistrates disqualified Grant from driving for 12 months and fined her £120.

She must also pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.