A 19-YEAR-OLD motorist has been ordered off the roads after being caught driving after consuming cannabis.

Police officers stopped Robbie Ralph at around 6.15pm on November 15 as he drove his black Volkswagen Polo on the A40 between Slebech and Canaston Bridge.

“Officers stopped the vehicle because its rear number plate was unclear as a result of dirt,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

When officers spoke to the defendant, they noticed a strong smell of cannabis emanating from inside the vehicle. A roadside drugs wipe proved positive and Ralph was conveyed to a police custody suite where further blood tests to be carried out. These gave a Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol reading of 4.6; the legal limit is 2.

Ralph, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to a charge of drug-driving. He was legally represented in court by Mr Michael Kelleher who informed magistrates his client had consumed the drug the previous evening.

“This was a dreadful mistake for him, however it’s not recognised by many people that when you take drugs, they hang around in your system for a lot longer than you’d expect,” he said.

“This has been a complete disaster and the future for my client looks very bleak.”

Ralph, of Cardigan Road, Haverfordwest, was disqualified from driving for a total of 12 months. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.

A 54-YEAR-OLD motorist has appeared before magistrates after staggering drunkenly into his Audi A4 before placing the keys in the ignition and turning on music.

The motorist was observed by police officers just before 1am on April 27 as he approached his Audion the B4585 at Manorbier.

“The man was seen staggering towards the officers before getting into the Audi,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“They then heard music coming from inside the vehicle. As they approached, they saw Shaun Lees sitting in the driver’s seat with the key in the ignition. When they spoke to him his speech was slurred.”

A roadside breath test was carried out which proved positive, giving a reading of 80 mcg. The legal limit is 35.

Lees, of Dewing Avenue, Manorbier, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a motor vehicle when he was above the legal alcohol limit.

He was represented in court by Mr Michael Kelleher.

“My client’s intention was to get something out of the car and then walk home, as he only lives around half a mile away,” he said.

“He didn’t start the car, and he wasn’t aware that a policeman was watching him.”

Mr Kelleher told the court that the defendant has been employed as a civil servant for the past 21 years.

“This offence was a big mistake, but my client never intended to drive the vehicle that night,” he said.

Lees was fined £266 and ordered to pay a £106 surcharge and £85 costs. His licence was endorsed with ten penalty points.

A MOTORIST who opted ‘to go with a no’ when asked to provide a breath test following a collision in Tenby, this week found himself in the dock for sentence.

Officers were called to an undisclosed location in Tenby town centre just after midnight on April 13.

“There had been a single vehicle road traffic collision and when officers arrived at the scene they discovered the vehicle in the middle of the road and the defendant, Lewis Turmol, standing on the pavement,” said Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker.

“When spoken to by officers, his first words were ‘I’m in the s***.’”

A roadside breath test proved positive, giving a reading of 88mcg, and Turmol, 27, was conveyed to Llanelli police station suite where he was asked to provide two further breath tests.

“But when he was asked to provide the samples, he said “I’ll go with a no,” said Ms Baker.  “And he continued to refuse to provide.”

Meanwhile probation officer Julie Norman said that at the time of the offence Tormol was working in Tenby and has consumed four pints of alcohol after finishing his shift before returning to his previous home in Saundersfoot,  

The defendant, who has now relocated to an address in Barry, pleaded guilty to the charge of failing to provide a specimen for police analysis.

But his solicitor, Stephen John, claimed his client was unaware of the seriousness of the offence.

“He didn’t quite realise what was going on,” he said.  “He was told that whatever happened, he would be disqualified, but by refusing to provide a sample, it isn’t quite as simple as that.  Had it been explained to him, he probably wouldn’t be here today.”

Turmoil was disqualified from driving for 24 months.  He was also ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and ten rehabilitation activity requirement days.  He must pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs.