Crime
Drunk digger driver remanded for hurling racial abuse at neighbours
A MILFORD HAVEN digger driver who hurled racist abuse at his female black neighbours on repeated occasions has been remanded in custody.

Body-worn footage captured by police officers following Ian Thomas’s arrest shows him asking the question, “Am I being done for beating up a black c***?”
Thomas, Hamilton Terrace, was brought before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday after being remanded in custody, following a spate of offences committed on May 4 and May 5.
“The victim and the defendant are neighbours who reside in the same block of flats,” said Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson.
“Initially, when the victim first moved in, there were no issues between them, but then he started coming home drunk, shouting, swearing, and banging on her door.”
On May 4 the victim heard Thomas returning home.
“He was clearly intoxicated and appeared to have wet himself,” continued Ms Jackson.
“He started banging on her door and then she heard him shouting ‘Black bastards’. She knew it was him because she recognised his voice.”
The following day, the victim returned to her home after attending a church service.
Once again Thomas subjected her to racial abuse.
“She had placed a black bin bag outside her flat and the defendant kicked it, causing it to split, with rubbish being strewn all over the hallway,” said Ms Jackson.
A victim impact statement was read out the court
“This has left me feeling very scared,” said the victim.
“I really don’t know what he would do if he had the chance, and since this happened, I haven’t left my flat. The racist comments really hurt me and I’m really upset by it.”
Ms Jackson said that when police arrived at Thomas’ flat for questioning, he answered the door holding a knife which he was pointing downwards. As a result, he was arrested.
“When he was taken into custody he told the officers that he had ‘black c***s’ as neighbours and asked why he was being arrested for beating up a black c***,” added Ms Jackson.
She informed magistrates that Thomas has 26 previous convictions for violence issues, public order offences and weapon offences.
She said that Thomas is also alcohol dependent.
Thomas pleaded guilty to three charges – causing his victim to fear violence; using threatening words and behaviour and racially aggravated words, affray and causing criminal damage to the bin bag.
Sentencing was adjourned until May 21 and Thomas was remanded in custody, despite a request by his solicitor, Michael Kelleher, for him to be released on bail.
“Generally, he gets on fine with the victim,” he said. “Unpleasant words were said that day, but they were not intentional.
“He is not a racist but he was clearly under the influence.”
Thomas was remanded in Swansea Prison until his sentencing.
Crime
Haverfordwest woman denies drug-driving allegations in Fishguard
A HAVERFORDWEST woman is to stand trial after denying two drug-driving allegations.
Sian Brazendale, 48, of Pedwar, Dingle Lane, Crundale, Haverfordwest, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, July 1.
She is accused of driving a grey Peugeot on West Street, Fishguard, on October 31 last year when the proportion of benzoylecgonine in her blood was allegedly 800ug/L, exceeding the specified legal limit.
Brazendale is also accused of driving the same vehicle on the same road and date when the proportion of cocaine in her blood was allegedly 67ug/L, again exceeding the specified limit.
Both charges are brought under Section 5A of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
The court list records that Brazendale entered not guilty pleas to both charges on March 17.
The case has now been adjourned for trial at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on September 17. The trial is expected to last three hours.
Brazendale was remanded on unconditional bail.
Crime
Teenager accused of burglary and assault after Monkton incident
A TEENAGER has appeared in court accused of a burglary and assault following an incident in Monkton, Pembroke.
The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, July 1.
The defendant faces an allegation of burglary of a dwelling with attempted grievous bodily harm, contrary to the Theft Act 1968.
The charge states that on June 23, at Monkton, the defendant is alleged to have entered a dwelling as a trespasser and attempted to inflict grievous bodily harm on a person inside.
The teenager is also charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to Section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, relating to the same date and area.
No pleas were recorded on the court list.
The case was adjourned to Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court for further case management on August 4. A trial has also been listed for August 10.
The defendant was remanded on conditional bail.
Bail conditions include a daily curfew between 8:00pm and 6:00am, a ban on entering specified areas of Monkton, and a condition not to contact two named people either directly or indirectly.
The youth must also comply with intensive supervision by the Youth Justice Team and attend at least two appointments a week as directed.
The defendant cannot be identified because Section 49 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 applies.
Crime
New Year’s Day drug-driver banned after police stop in Milford Haven
A NEW YEAR’S EVE drive has resulted in a 12-month road ban after a motorist was found to be more than twice the legal cannabis limit.
Ridwan Rahman, 20, was stopped by police as he drove his Vauxhall Astra along Steynton Road, Milford Haven, on January 1.
“Police noted the car accelerating away from traffic lights in an erratic manner,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
“When officers asked the vehicle to stop, they smelt cannabis coming from inside.”
A blood test later showed Rahman had 5.2mcg of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in cannabis, in his system. The legal limit is 2mcg.
Rahman, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to drug-driving. He was represented in court by solicitor Alaw Harries, who disputed the prosecution’s claim that he had been driving erratically.
“He does not accept that he was driving in an erratic manner, nor that he accelerated away from the traffic lights,” she said.
“The officers told him he had been stopped because the vehicle’s registration plate light was not working.”
Rahman, of Carbon Close, Newport, was fined £323 and ordered to pay a £129 court surcharge and £85 costs.
He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.
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