Crime
Tenby rugby player regrets post-match drinks after being caught drink-driving
A TENBY rugby player who drank alcohol following a match found himself on the wrong side of the law after turning his car over in the early hours of February 18.
Police received a phone call from a member of the public informing them that a car had been abandoned on Ridgeway Road, Penally after it turned over just before 1am.
Subsequent police checks confirmed that the registered keeper of the vehicle was 23-year-old Alexander Osborn of Albany Hotel, Tenby.
“Officers went to the defendant’s home address and spoke to him,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
“They smelt alcohol on him and he was also unsteady on his feet.”
During his police interview, Osborn admitted crashing his car about an hour earlier and also informed officers that he had been drinking alcohol following a rugby match he’d played earlier that day.
He was subsequently arrested and taken to a police custody suite where he gave further breath tests with a lowest reading of 50mcg. The legal limit is 35.
Osborn pleaded guilty to the charge of drink-driving when he appeared before magistrates this week.
“An aggravating feature to this offence is the fact that an accident took place,” his solicitor, Mr Tom Lloyd, told the court.
“But following the accident he panicked and didn’t know what to do. He reacted in a way that was very, very silly.”
Osborn was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge. He was disqualified from driving for 16 months.
Crime
Teenager disqualified from driving after taking cannabis
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.
Crime
Drunken motorist sentenced for being in charge of Audi A4
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.
Crime
Motorst sentenced for failing to provide breath test
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.
-
Community7 days ago
Tragic passing Josh, 28, mourned by Milford Haven community
-
Community6 days ago
Lucy’s sudden passing at just 38 leaves a community in mourning
-
News2 days ago
Cyclist dies during annual charity ride to Tenby
-
News4 days ago
Renewed social media appeal over Sian Batchelor’s death
-
News3 days ago
Aurora Alert: Another chance to see the Northern Lights tonight
-
Crime7 days ago
Drunk digger driver remanded for hurling racial abuse at neighbours
-
Crime4 days ago
Former Pembroke Dock mayor admits child abuse image charges
-
Business6 days ago
Lidl will be first supermarket to sign up for milk from Pembrokeshire Creamery