43-year-old asked officer for help while holding weapon and later admitted criminal damage

A PEMBROKE DOCK man who arrived at a police station carrying a sharply pointed knife has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard that just after 6:30am on Tuesday (Mar 4), an on-duty officer at Pembroke Dock police station heard a knock on the main door.

“When he opened it he saw Sam Wilkins who asked the officer to help him,” said Crown Prosecutor Nia James.

“He was holding a black-handled knife in his hand, and he appeared agitated.”

The court was told that when Wilkins, 43, was asked to step back and drop the knife, he complied.

Wilkins, of Bethel Road, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place and to a second charge of criminal damage.

Magistrates heard that on Sunday (Mar 2), police received a report of a man attempting to gain entry to a property in Pembroke Dock.

“The inhabitant knew the defendant to say hello to, but he’d turned up at her property early that morning, banging on the door and causing a window to crack,” said Nia James.

The cost of the damage was estimated at around £200.

Both offences were committed while Wilkins was subject to a community order for breaching a restraining order.

Despite the seriousness of the case, probation officer Julie Norman urged magistrates to impose a suspended sentence, stating that Wilkins was willing to engage with support services.

This was supported by his solicitor, Tom Lloyd.

Wilkins was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months. He must complete a 120-day alcohol monitoring programme and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He was also ordered to pay £150 compensation, £170 prosecution costs and a £154 surcharge.

50-year-old stopped near car wash after Tesco staff raised concerns

A MILFORD HAVEN man has been disqualified from driving after being convicted of his sixth drink-driving offence.

Stephen Jonathan, 50, was spotted by police officers driving his Mercedes A-Class near the car wash in Milford Haven.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard that on the afternoon of Friday (Mar 7), staff at Tesco became concerned about his behaviour.

“He’d gone into the store to buy alcohol but they refused to serve him, knowing he was under the influence,” said Crown Prosecutor Nia James.

“They alerted the police who saw him driving at the nearby car wash.”

A subsequent breathalyser test showed Jonathan had 50 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

The court was told Jonathan has a history of similar offences, including two previous failures to provide breath specimens and five drink-driving convictions, the most recent in 2019.

Jonathan, of Wellington Road, Hakin, pleaded guilty to driving whilst unfit through drink.

Representing him, Fenn Richards said he had consumed one can of alcohol that afternoon but had also been using large amounts of mouthwash following recent dental implant work.

“It’s possible this could have had an impact on his reading,” she said.

“But he didn’t think he was going to be over the limit on this occasion.”

Jonathan was disqualified from driving for 38 months. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

49-year-old found hiding beer can with breath reading over three times the legal limit

A ROSEMARKET motorist has been banned from driving after being found in charge of her vehicle while unfit through drink.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard that at around 10:00pm on Saturday (Mar 1), police were alerted by staff at the Johnston garage to a Toyota Aygo that had been driven away from the premises. Subsequent checks confirmed the vehicle was registered to Julie Askew, 49, of The Chantry, West Street, Rosemarket.

Officers travelled along an unclassified road towards Johnston, where they discovered the vehicle parked in a pull-in on Church Road.

“They also saw the defendant, Julie Askew, hiding a can of Bud beer between the seats,” said Crown Prosecutor Nia James.

A roadside breath test produced a reading of 114 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Askew pleaded guilty to being in charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink.

Representing her, Fenn Richards told the court that the defendant had pulled over to go for a walk with her partner.

“This has been a significant wake-up call for her, and she hasn’t consumed alcohol since,” she said.

“She has suffered significantly over the past five years as a result of a severely traumatic period in her life, which has led to a decline in her mental health. She has consumed alcohol as a coping mechanism.

“She’s greatly affected by what’s happened over the past five years and has lost a lot of confidence. She’s worked all her life but now, for the first time, finds herself on universal credit. She’s extremely ashamed to be in this situation today.”

Askew was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge. Her licence was endorsed with ten penalty points.