Crime

Stoned driver was seven times over the drug-drive limit

Published

2 years ago

February 21, 2024

A GOODWICK motorist who admitted driving his vehicle when he was seven times over the drug-drive limit has been ordered off the roads by a district judge.

Stephen Oldhoff, 25, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates earlier this week when he admitted driving on the A40 near to the Corner Piece pub, Haverfordwest after consuming Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol. Blood tests carried out by police officers revealed he had no less than 16 mcg of the drug in his system; the legal limit is 2.

“It was a routine stop check carried out by officers at around 1pm on September 12, 2023,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court.

“During the conversation, officers discovered that the defendant had taken cannabis the previous evening.”

But Oldhoff’s solicitor, Fenn Richards, said that his drug intake was a means of dealing with the sudden loss of his father.

“His father passed away suddenly in August, and this has had a devastating impact on him,” she said.

“My client lost his job as a result of his grief, and this led to him taking cannabis.

“He’s now going to start a new job where he will be regularly drug tested and will spend a great deal of time out at sea.”

Oldhoff, of Plas y Gamil Road, Goodwick, Fishguard, was disqualified from driving for three years by District Judge Mark Layton. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

“I understand there are difficult circumstances that led to this offence,” commented Judge Layton when imposing sentence.

Crime

Driver sentenced for cannabis offences on Cleddau Bridge and in Wolverhampton

Published

23 hours ago

July 24, 2026

Court Reporter

A WOLVERHAMPTON motorist has been disqualified from driving after admitting two separate cannabis-driving offences, including one on the Cleddau Bridge.

Doel Lyons appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (July 23), where he pleaded guilty to both charges.

The first offence took place on December 22, 2025, when Lyons drove a Honda Civic along the A477 Cleddau Bridge at Pembroke Dock.

A blood test showed seven micrograms of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, per litre of blood.

The second offence occurred on March 30 this year, when Lyons drove the same Honda Civic along Tithe Croft in Wolverhampton with cannabis in his blood above the legal limit.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month driving disqualification for each offence and fined Lyons £233 on each charge.

He was also ordered to pay £85 in prosecution costs in relation to each conviction.

The court register does not specify whether the two periods of disqualification are to run concurrently.

Separate allegations that Lyons drove another vehicle while over the cannabis limit and without insurance in Staffordshire in September 2025 remain outstanding.

No pleas have been entered to those charges, which were adjourned for a plea hearing at Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court on July 29.

Crime

Pembrokeshire teenager given referral order after shoplifting spree

Published

24 hours ago

July 24, 2026

Court Reporter

A PEMBROKESHIRE teenager has been given a 12-month referral order after admitting a string of shop thefts and damaging a police vehicle.

The youth appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (July 23), where guilty pleas were entered to 11 theft offences committed between April and June.

The offences involved shops in Haverfordwest, Milford Haven and Neyland, with alcohol targeted in the majority of the incidents.

Items stolen included BuzzBall alcoholic drinks, vodka, cans of Red Bull, crisps, chewing gum and a sandwich.

The court heard that several of the thefts took place at retail parks in Haverfordwest and Milford Haven, while others occurred at stores in Neyland and Milford Haven town centre.

The individual also admitted causing £180 worth of damage to a Dyfed-Powys Police vehicle in Neyland on June 26.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month referral order, which will require the teenager to work with the Pembrokeshire Youth Offending Team and comply with a contract agreed with a youth offender panel.

Compensation totalling £336.77 was ordered in relation to the stolen property and damage to the police vehicle. The teenager’s guilty pleas were taken into account.

The court imposed reporting restrictions under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. Nothing may be published which could identify the youth.

Crime

Murder investigation launched into death of Pembrokeshire man in 1991

Published

2 days ago

July 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A 67-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after new potential evidence emerged in connection with a death more than three decades ago.

Dyfed-Powys Police have launched a murder investigation into the death of 58-year-old Bentley Mathias, who died in hospital in 1991.

Mr Mathias died at Morriston Hospital on November 19, 1991, with his cause of death recorded at the time as a brain haemorrhage.

His death was not initially treated as suspicious. However, police said new potential evidence had since come to light, prompting the case to be investigated as a murder enquiry.

On Wednesday, July 22, officers arrested a 67-year-old man from the Llandewi Velfrey area of Pembrokeshire on suspicion of murder.

He has since been released on police bail while enquiries continue.

Dyfed-Powys Police said officers were not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation.

The enquiry remains ongoing.