A HAVERFORDWEST woman has appeared before magistrates after allegedly crashing into five concrete bollards and a stone wall after drinking alcohol.

Leah Harries, 29, of Gerald Road, Haverfordwest was charged with drink-driving following the alleged incident at City Road, Haverfordwest in the early hours of February 17.

“It was 1.25 am and reports were made to the police about a single vehicle road collision,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“The vehicle, a Volkswagen Golf, had been travelling at speed and had taken out approximately five concrete bollards and had damaged a stone wall.

“Residents saw a male get out of the passenger’s side of the vehicle, and a female get out of the driver’s side.”

Ms Baker went on to say that when police officers arrived at the scene, they discovered the male standing beside the vehicle, while the defendant had left the scene,

“Leah Harries was then found at her address following a short search of the area,” said Ms Baker. “When interviewed, she admitted that she was the person driving the vehicle and provided breath samples at the police station which gave a reading of 56 mcg.”

The prescribed legal limit is 35.

However Harries denies the charge of drink-driving. Her solicitor, Mr Michael Kelleher, told the court the defendant had consumed the alcohol after returning to her home following the accident.

The matter was adjourned to August 15 when Harries’s trial will take place. The defendant was released on unconditional bail

A SHORTAGE of taxis in Tenby town centre two nights before Christmas resulted in a disqualified driver jumping into a parked Honda Jazz and driving towards his home in Manorbier.

Following unsuccessful attempts to hail a taxi shortly before 4am on December 23, Mark Powell, 39, made the reckless decision of walking over to a former employer’s car and driving off.

“He walked to the Pay and Display car park where the  victim’s car was parked,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“He knows the victim, and he knows that [the victim] sometimes leaves the keys in the car when he wants it washed.  The defendant was well aware of this, so he took the vehicle.”

But Ms Baker said the decision was made despite Powell having been disqualified in June 2023 following a conviction of drink-driving.

“That night he was in town, he couldn’t get home, so he took a friend’s car who he’s known for a considerable length of time,” said Powell’s solicitor, Tom Lloyd.

“No damage was caused and the car was returned the following day.”

Powell, of Dewing Avenue, Manorbier, pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle which had been taken without the owner’s consent, of driving whilst disqualified and of driving without insurance.

Powell was sentenced to a 12-month community order during which he must carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.  He must pay £85 court costs and a £114 surcharge.  He was disqualified from driving for six months which will be added to his current disqualification.

A COURT has heard how a woman is ‘constantly looking over her shoulder’ after a man was seen waving a hammer and spitting at a CCTV camera installed in her property.

“I feel extremely intimidated,” the woman said in a victim impact statement read out to Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“I’ve done nothing wrong, but I’m concerned that this man has a permanent obsession with me, and feel I have to keep looking over my shoulder.”

Listening to the statement was defendant Jackson Hanley, 29, of Parc-y-Ddraig, Penybryn, Cardigan, who pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the CCTV camera by spitting and of using threatening, abusive and insulting words and behaviour likely to cause harassment to the female during the incident at Castle Terrace, Narberth, on March 10.

“The complainant was the owner of the flat which the defendant attended,” said Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker. “There had been issues previously, so the victim installed a CCTV camera.

“That night, [the defendant] turned up and called the complainant ‘a dirty f whore’. As he said those words, he waved a hammer at the camera and spat at it. As a result, the complainant now fears for her safety.”

Video footage captured by the CCTV camera was shown to the magistrates.

Hanley was represented in court by solicitor Tom Lloyd who stressed that his client has no previous convictions.

“The complainant has said that the defendant has an obsession with her, but nothing could be further from the truth,” he said.

“There has been a longstanding, ongoing dispute between the two parties as a result of non-payment of wages and on this particular day, he hadn’t been paid for doing a day’s work.

“No threats were made directly to the complainant, however he accepts that his behaviour captured on camera was completely inappropriate.”

Hanley was fined £160 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £64 surcharge. An application to impose a restraining order which prevented Hanley from having further contact with the complainant was rejected by magistrates.