Crime

Neyland motorist caught driving Mercedes four times over the limit

Published

2 years ago

March 12, 2024

A NEYLAND man has escaped a custodial sentence after driving his Mercedes through the town when he was almost four times over the legal drink-limit.

Police officers followed Wayne Morris as he drove his Mercedes CLA from the Crossways Service Station in Honeyborough to his home in Water Street, Neyland on the afternoon of February 24.

“His vehicle was swerving erratically, it was braking erratically, it hit a kerb and on a number of occasions it came very close to causing an accident,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates when Morris appeared before them on Tuesday.

Subsequent intoximeter tests showed that Morris, 51, had no less than 134 mcg of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35.

Probation officer Julie Norman told the court that the offence was committed after Morris learned that a close family member had received a cancer diagnosis.was told.

“He consumed a considerable amount of alcohol after receiving the bad news, and drank into the early hours,” she said.

“At around 4.30pm the following day, he thought he was ok to drive, so he drove from his home in Neyland to the service station. But when he got there,he had second thoughts and decided to drive home.”

But police officers who had been present at the service station, decided to follow Morris as he drove his vehicle home.

“He knows he faces a serious situation today, as this high reading could attract a custodial sentence,” added Julie Norman.

Morris pleaded guilty to a charge of drink-driving and was legally represented by barrister Mr David Griffiths.

“When my client received the bad news about a relative who had been diagnosed with cancer, he went on a binge all night and through into the early hours, even though he’d been off the drink for some time prior,” said Mr Griffiths.

“When he woke up the following afternoon and decided to drive, he made a ridiculous mistake.”
Mr Griffiths went on to inform magistrates that Morris was involved in a serious road accident in 2019 which resulted in the amputation of his hand. As a result, he is in constant pain and has severe anxiety issues, which often leads to his dependence on alcohol.

“He recognises he has an issue with alcohol and has now taken steps to have counselling in that regard,” he said.

“My client needs help as a result of the accident and the PTSD which this has caused him, and I ask this court to give him that support that he so greatly needs.”

After considering the mitigation, magistrates sentenced Morris to eight weeks in custody suspended for 18 months. He was disqualified from driving for 32 months.

He must also carry out 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £154 surcharge.

Crime

Milford Haven man admits assault and harassment charges

Published

4 days ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN has admitted assaulting a family member and harassing another relative following incidents in the town last year.

Wayne Whatling, 39, of Howarth Close, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Whatling changed his pleas to guilty to one charge of assault by beating and one charge of harassment without violence.

The assault charge relates to an incident in Milford Haven on September 13, 2025, when Whatling assaulted Ben Whatling by beating him.

He also admitted pursuing a course of conduct amounting to harassment against Carol Whatling between September 1 and September 13, 2025.

The court heard the harassment allegation involved repeatedly asking Carol Whatling for money, with the complainant said to have feared repercussions if she did not provide it.

Magistrates adjourned the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Whatling was remanded on conditional bail and ordered not to contact Carol or Ben Whatling directly or indirectly.

He is due to be sentenced at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (June 9).

Crime

Milford Haven man admits affray after alleged pub incident

Published

4 days ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN man has admitted affray following an incident at a town centre pub.

Stephen Collier, 38, of Vaynor Road, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Collier has pleaded guilty to affray, relating to an incident at Nos Da, Victoria Road, Milford Haven, on December 3, 2025.

The charge states that he used unlawful violence towards John Dean Hilton and that his conduct was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for their personal safety.

Collier also faces a separate charge of burglary dwelling with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm. It is alleged that, on the same date, he entered a flat at Nos Da as a trespasser and inflicted grievous bodily harm on Mr Hilton. He denies that charge.

The court also dealt with a breach of bail allegation after Collier was arrested on May 20 for allegedly breaching a curfew condition. He admitted the breach.

Magistrates re-admitted him to conditional bail.

His bail conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 9:00pm and 6:00am, residence at his Vaynor Road address, and exclusions from Mount Estate, Milford Haven town centre, and Nos Da.

He must also not contact prosecution witnesses, including Molly Martin, Jack Martin, Lily Rose Martin and John Hilton.

Collier is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, June 5, for sentence.

A spokesperson for Nos Da said the incident was connected with rooms upstairs at the Victoria Road premises, and did not take place in the bar itself, in the licensed area.