Crime

Pembrokeshire firefighter admits drink-driving

Published

2 years ago

May 14, 2024

A COURT has told how a Pembrokeshire firefighter volunteer made ‘the biggest mistake of his life’ after driving at Canaston Bridge when he was more than four-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit.

When police arrived at the scene, they discovered David Thomas in the driver’s seat of a Vauxhall Combo van.

“Police officers had received a report of a single vehicle road traffic collision, after a van had gone into a ditch at Cross Hands, in Canaston Bridge,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“There they found the defendant sitting in the vehicle; he was extremely intoxicated.”

The incident took place at around 3.30pm on the afternoon of April 24.

A roadside breath test proved positive and Thomas, 66, of Haven Road, Haverfordwest, was taken to a police custody suite where he gave two further breath tests. These gave a lower reading of 159 mcg, The legal limit is 35.

“This is a very hard-working and valued member of the community, but that day, he made the biggest mistake of his life,” said solicitor, Tom Lloyd, after Thomas pleaded guilty to the charge of drink-driving.

Mr Lloyd said that Thomas is a self-employed builder who has worked on construction projects throughout Pembrokeshire since the age of 16. He has also served as a voluntary firefighter for a number of years.

“It’s very sad that he finds himself in this situation,” continued Mr Loyd. “He’s extremely embarrassed as he is a hard-working person who has never, ever, done anything wrong in his life. This has been a true wake-up call.”

Mr Lloyd’s comments were endorsed by probation officer Julie Norman.

“He is very aware of the seriousness of the offence,” she said.

“Other road users would have been at risk as this was a busy time of day, with people picking up children from school.

“Mr Thomas had drunk alcohol the day before and the following morning he got up, went to work and had more alcohol. He was on his way home from work at the time of the offence, and he lost control of the van.”

Ms Norman went on to say that since his arrest, Thomas has engaged with the Dyfed Drugs and Alcohol Service.

“It’s encouraging that he acknowledges that he has an alcohol issue,” she said.

After considering mitigation, magistrates agreed that Thomas’s offence crossed the custody threshold. He was sentenced to eight weeks in custody suspended for 12 months and was disqualified from driving for 36 months.

He must also carry out ten rehabilitation activity requirement days with the probation service and was ordered to pay a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.

“The figure [of 159mcg] is frankly off the scale,” commented the presiding magistrate when passing sentence.

“But we feel that you have the will to sort yourself out. You now need to work with probation to address the issue.”

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.