Crime

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

Published

2 years ago

March 26, 2024

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.

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Crime

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

18 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

A SPITTAL man is to stand trial accused of assaulting a man and causing actual bodily harm.

Robert Hedley, 41, of Wesley Way, Spittal, Haverfordwest, is charged with assaulting Liam Morley-Trivett at St Clears on August 30, 2025.

The case was before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jun 18).

Hedley was granted unconditional bail and is due to stand trial at the same court on Monday, June 29.

The trial is listed for 10:00am and has been given a time estimate of twenty minutes.

Crime

Milford Haven woman spared jail despite string of shop thefts

Published

18 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Repeat offender stole from Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and petrol stations in wave of offences

A MILFORD HAVEN woman who admitted a series of shop thefts committed over a matter of weeks has been handed a suspended prison sentence by magistrates.

Marion Picton, aged 46, of Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 18) and pleaded guilty to eight theft offences and a drugs-related offence.

The court heard that Picton carried out a string of thefts at stores across Milford Haven between April and June this year.

Among the offences, Picton admitted stealing meat from Food Warehouse on Apr 23, food worth £60 from Victoria Filling Station on May 29, groceries from Home Bargains on Jun 7 and Jun 8, food from Victoria Filling Station on Jun 7 and Jun 9, groceries and non-food items worth £51.09 from Tesco on Jun 16, and food worth £32.50 from Food Warehouse on the same day.

She also admitted failing to attend an initial drugs assessment after testing positive for Class A drugs, including cocaine and opiates.

Magistrates were told the offences represented persistent repeat offending and had been committed while Picton was already subject to a court order.

The bench imposed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

As part of the order, Picton must complete up to 15 rehabilitation activity days under the supervision of the Probation Service.

The court ordered her to pay compensation to several of the businesses affected, including Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and Victoria Filling Station.

In sentencing, magistrates said the offences were serious enough to justify immediate custody but suspended the sentence because there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and Picton appeared motivated to address her addiction issues.

Picton was warned that any further offending during the 18-month suspension period could see the prison sentence activated.