Crime

Police officer headbutted in ambulance by son of injured man

Published

4 years ago

January 12, 2022

A ST FLORENCE man who head-butted and bit a police officer whilst inside an ambulance has been given a 16-week suspended prison sentence by Haverfordwest magistrates.

Dylan Hughes, 19, of St Florence, Tenby, admitted the charge of assault by beating on Pc James Meiring when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday.

The court was shown six minutes of distressing and graphic video coverage where Hughes was seen head-butting the officer twice and biting his head. Despite repeated attempts by the paramedics, an attending army officer and police officers to keep his behaviour in check, Hughes continued to spiral out of control. “Get the f*** off me, you pussy,” he was heard shouting at the officer. “You’re not f****** big enough. Put the f****** cuffs away. You’re a waste of time. I’m going to knock you out.”

Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker described the incident as ‘absolutely appalling’. “Bearing in mind the pandemic we’re going through, the behaviour in the ambulance that night was unacceptable,” she said.

Probation officer Julie Norman went on to say that every emergency worker present in the ambulance that evening feared for their personal safety. “The paramedics, the army officer and the police officers all feared for their safety that night as a result of Hughes’ actions.”

The offence took place in Johnston on December 18 after Hughes had attended a works-do with colleagues during which he’d drunk ten pints of lager. His father, who was present in court, had fallen outside a pub and sustained what his solicitor, Tom Lloyd, described as ‘an awful head injury’ which required the services of an ambulance. Once inside the ambulance however, Hughes’ behaviour went out of control. Despite on-going efforts by emergency workers to calm him down he began threatening the officer and his threats turned to reality when he began head-butting Pc Meiring.

“His behaviour was absolutely disgraceful and unacceptable,” said defence solicitor Tom Lloyd. “He’s let himself down tremendously. I’m not making any bones about it; my client knows it’s either custody immediately or custody suspended. That’s the severity of the case.”

Mr Lloyd went on to say that having spent a considerable length of time with the defendant following the offence, prison would not be a suitable place for Hughes. “He’s genuinely sorry and knows he’ll never come to court again. Impose whatever you feel fit in the circumstances. My client will take anything you think he deserves.”

In addition to his 16-week prison sentence suspended for two years, Hughes was ordered to pay £300 compensation to the injured police officer, £85 costs and a £128 surcharge. He has also been ordered to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work.

Imposing sentence, presiding magistrate Mr David Ellis described the video as ‘absolutely shocking’. “The emergency workers were all trying to help your father and for all these reasons, we think this (offence) crosses the custody threshold. You say you’re very embarrassed and ashamed, and so you should be.”

Crime

Local carpenter retains driving licence despite previous ban

Published

60 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A Herbrandston carpenter has been allowed to keep his driving licence despite a previous driving disqualification for using his mobile phone whilst driving.

Addressing District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court this week, Simon Shaw stressed the disqualification was having a major impact on his work commitment as well as his ability to support members of his family.

“If the ban continues, at least two of my five employees will have to be lost” said Shaw, who works as a self-employed carpenter operating from Herbrandston and the Milford Haven Industrial Estate.

“We travel throughout the whole of West Wales and also work at Thorne Island, where we’ve been providing logistical support for renovations for the last four years.”

Shaw, of Triplestone Close, Herbrandston, went on to say that his business has only one other driver who works as a reserve fire fighter.

“As a result, he’s not available to provide the 24 hour cover we provide to various care homes in the county,” he said.

Simon Shaw concluded by stating that his daughter is also dependent on his support having recently given birth to twins while his son-in-law and his partner’s mother are both currently undergoing serious healthcare treatments.

“I’m trying to provide as much logistical support for them as I can, but without my driving licence, this is impossible,” he said.

After listening to his comments, Judge Layton granted Shaw permission to retain his licence.

Crime

Delivery driver caught twice over legal drink-drive limit

Published

1 hour ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A delivery driver has been banned from the roads after being caught behind the wheel when he was over twice the legal drink-drive limit.

Twenty-nine year old Sam Rowe was stopped by officers just before 9.30 am on April 20 as he drove his Vauxhall Vivaro along Ferry Lane in Pembroke Dock.

“His speech was slurred and his eyes were bloodshot,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest Magistrates Court this week.

“There was also a strong smell of intoxicants emanating from him.”

When spoken to by the officers, Rowe stated he’d drunk a pint of alcohol approximately an hour before being stopped, however subsequent breathalyser tests showed he had no less than 75 mcg of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35.

Rowe, of Hazel Close, Pontypool, pleaded guilty to the offence and was represented in court by solicitor Michael Kelleher who informed the court that the defendant was holidaying in Pembrokeshire at the time of the offence.

“His daughter fell ill and he was attempting to find painkillers for her at a supermarket,” he said. “He’s very remorseful and is now going to lose his job as a delivery driver.”

Rowe, who has no previous convictions, was disqualified from driving for a total of 20 months. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

Crime

Police tip-off leads to driving ban for Milford motorist

Published

1 hour ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A Pembrokeshire motorist has lost his licence after police received information that the 40-year-old male may have been driving under the influence of drugs.

This week Haverfordwest Magistrates court was told that at around 8.30pm on November 22 officers received a call informing them that Michael Miles was suspected of driving his Peugeot Bipper through Milford Haven after consuming drugs.

Miles was subsequently stopped on Marble Hall Road and when spoken to by the officers, he informed them that he was a drug user. A saliva sample tested positive for cocaine while further tests carried out at the police station showed that Miles had 760 mcg of the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine in his system, the legal limit being 50.

Miles, of Milford Road, Steynton, chose to be legally unrepresented in court and pleaded guilty to the drug-driving charge.

The probation service said he was very remorseful for the offence and has since had appointments with the Dyfed Drugs and Alcohol Service to help him deal with his drug usage. Miles was served with an interim driving disqualification however as a result of his previous non-payment of fines, his punitive sentencing was adjourned to Thursday, May 7.

“If you pay your outstanding fines before Thursday, you will be fined for this offence,” warned District Judge Mark Layton. “But if you don’t pay, you will be given a custodial sentence.”