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Crime

20-year-old motorist banned after driving on cocktail of drugs

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A 20-YEAR-OLD motorist has been disqualified from driving after being found behind the wheel after consuming cocaine.

James Old was stopped by officers soon after 10.30pm on November 15 as he drove his Renault Kangoo along the A478 through Templeton.

“He was stopped as a result of the manner in which he was driving,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“The defendant was the driver and there was also a passenger occupant.”

A roadside drugs swipe proved positive and Old, of the Old Mart Ground, Narberth, was conveyed to a police custody suite for further blood tests to be carried out.  These confirmed he had 52 ug/L of cocaine and 785 cg/L of benzoylecgonine in his system.  The prescribed legal limit is 10 and 50 respectively.

Old pleaded guilty to the charge of driving when he was over the legal drug-drive limit.

He was represented in court by Mr Michael Kelleher.

“At the time, he was having problems in his life and was going down the wrong track,” he said.  “The night before he’d taken cocaine, and both drugs were still present in his system when he was stopped by police.”

Magistrates disqualified Old from driving for 12 months.  He was fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and an £80 surcharge.

Why we cover court casesIn our commitment to transparency and public service, we diligently cover court cases to fulfill our role as a vital link between the judiciary system and the public. This coverage is not just about reporting events; it’s about upholding the principle of open justice, a cornerstone of democracy. By bringing light to the workings of the legal system, we ensure that justice is not only done but seen to be done. This transparency helps in building public trust in the judiciary, educates our readers on legal processes, and highlights the societal impacts of the law. Moreover, our court reporting can often provide a voice to those who might otherwise be unheard, reinforcing the importance of accountability and fairness. Through meticulous coverage of court cases, we aim to inform, enlighten, and contribute to a well-informed public, fostering a more just society.
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Crime

Haverfordwest man faces drug charges in Crown Court

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A 23-YEAR-OLD man from Haverfordwest has been formally charged with multiple drug-related offences, including the possession and intent to supply cocaine, MDMA, and cannabis. Owen Maddocks, residing at Hywel Road, will soon make a court appearance at Swansea Crown Court to respond to the charges.

Maddocks stands accused of possessing cocaine with intent to supply on April 5 and similarly for MDMA on June 15 of the previous year. On the same dates, he also allegedly intended to supply cannabis, leading to additional charges.

Furthermore, the allegations against Maddocks include the possession of criminal property, specifically £4,905 in cash, which was seized on June 15.

After appearing at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on May 3, Maddocks was granted bail. He is scheduled to appear at Swansea Crown Court on May 10, where he will enter his pleas.

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Crime

Father jailed for assaulting daughter during work trip

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A FATHER has been imprisoned after he assaulted his 19-year-old daughter during a business trip in Tenby. Nathan Smith, 41, of Salcot Crescent, Croydon, was staying with his daughter, Shania Smith, at Penally Manor near Christmas.

The incident occurred around 2 pm on Sunday, December 17, when, according to the prosecutor Regan Walters, an altercation broke out between the two. Ms Smith confided in a colleague that she was being annoyed by her father. Mr. Walters stated that Mr. Smith overheard the conversation and summoned his daughter to his room to discuss her comments.

During the confrontation, Ms Smith insisted she was not disrespecting her father, who then physically assaulted her. “The defendant grabbed her by the neck using both hands,” Mr. Walters explained, noting that she could still breathe. The altercation escalated as Mr. Smith pushed his daughter against a wall and dragged her back into the room when she tried to leave.

Colleagues intervened after hearing the commotion, and although Ms Smith attempted to contact the police, she was unable to due to a lack of signal. Authorities arrived approximately four hours later.

In a statement to the court, Ms Smith expressed her disillusionment with her father’s actions, stating, “I felt so let down” and “I just don’t feel safe.”

Mr. Smith, who has a history of seven previous convictions involving 15 offences, admitted to assault occasioning actual bodily harm but denied a charge of strangulation. His plea was accepted by the prosecution.

Defence solicitor James McKenna described the incident as spontaneous and impulsive, saying, “This is a situation that should have never ever occurred. He is appalled by it.”

The court sentenced Mr. Smith to 14 months in prison and issued a three-year restraining order to protect his daughter, underscoring the severity of the familial breach.

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Crime

Four-figure fine because of four-legged friends

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A PACK of dogs which bark persistently in a Pembrokeshire residential area have resulted in a four-figure fine for their owner.

“The lady living in the property beneath has been concerned about the noise for some considerable time,” said solicitor Jill Davies, prosecuting on behalf of Pembrokeshire County Council.  “Sometimes the dogs can be heard barking at two, three and even four o’clock in the morning,” 

As a result, noise abatement notices were served on Catherine Jones, 51, of Northfield Terrace, Robseston Wathen, following numerous visits by Pembrokeshire County Council’s enforcement officers, RSPCA officers and police officers.  But despite the notices, Catherine Jones’s dogs continued to bark.

“The noise abatement notices were served as a result of at least five dogs, possibly as many as seven, barking in a domestic local authority property,” continued Jill Davies.

Last week Jones was found guilty in her absence by Haverfordwest magistrates of five charges of failing to comply with a noise abatement notice under the Environmental Protection Act and three charges of failing to comply with a community protection notice.

This Tuesday, May 7, the matter was brought back to Haverfordwest Magistrates Court for sentencing; once again Catherine Jones failed to attend.

Jones was ordered to pay a total of £1,640, comprising a £440 fine and £1,200 prosecution costs to Pembrokeshire County Council.  An application by the local authority for a criminal behaviour order to be served against Jones was declined by magistrates.

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