Crime

Haverfordwest drug dealer sentenced after cannabis, coke and MDMA found

Published

2 years ago

June 15, 2024

A 23-YEAR-OLD drug dealer has been sentenced to a total of two and a half years in prison after police discovered a large quantity of drugs and cash at his mother’s house.

Owen Maddocks, of Hywel Road in Haverfordwest, was arrested after police attended his mother’s address on 15 June last year to speak with him about an unrelated matter. During their visit, officers found £4,905 in cash and a substantial amount of drugs in Maddocks’ room, prosecutor Ieuan Rees told Swansea Crown Court.

The police discovered 1.284kg of cannabis, around 147 MDMA tablets, and approximately 18 grams of cocaine. Maddocks was arrested and provided a prepared statement in the interview before being released on bail pending further investigations.

On 5 April, Maddocks was stopped by police while a passenger in a car. He admitted to having cannabis on him and further quantities at his flat and his mother’s house. Officers subsequently recovered an additional 72 grams of cannabis. Maddocks again provided a prepared statement, admitting to selling drugs to known users to pay off a drug debt.

The April offence occurred while Maddocks was on bail for the initial charges. He admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis, possession of MDMA, and possessing criminal property relating to the cash found on 15 June. He also admitted a second charge of possessing cannabis with intent to supply on 5 April.

In mitigation, Dean Pulling explained that Maddocks was primarily involved in the supply of cannabis, with the cocaine being a minor sideline. He noted that Maddocks felt pressured to commit the April offence to make up for the cash seized by police. Mr Pulling added that Maddocks had been introduced to cannabis at the age of nine but is now drug-free and has found his first experience of custody challenging.

Judge Catherine Richards sentenced Maddocks to two years for the June offences and an additional six months, to run consecutively, for the April offence. An additional month was added for breaching a suspended sentence order.

Judge Richards ordered that the £4,905 seized from Maddocks be utilised by Dyfed-Powys Police in their efforts to combat drug trafficking.

Crime

Hakin man’s appeal delayed again as Crown Court seeks guidance on insurance law

Published

59 minutes ago

February 3, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Judge gives CPS more time to review latest road traffic law guidance before case returns in March

A HAKIN man’s appeal against a conviction for driving without insurance has been delayed after a judge granted prosecutors additional time to review updated legal guidance.

Seventy-six-year-old Niall Taylor, of Haven Drive, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Jan 13) for a mention hearing in his case.

Taylor has accepted the finding that he drove otherwise than in accordance with a licence, but is challenging the separate conviction for using a vehicle without insurance.

The case relates to an incident on January 18, 2023, when he drove a Vauxhall Zafira along Hammond Avenue, Haverfordwest.

The matter has already followed an unusual procedural history. Taylor initially pleaded not guilty in the magistrates’ court but later changed his plea during the original trial. Questions were subsequently raised over whether that plea had been “equivocal”, leading the case to be reopened under Section 142 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 and reheard in full.

Following a trial of the facts, magistrates found him guilty and imposed sentence in December. Taylor has since lodged an appeal focused solely on the insurance offence.

During Tuesday’s hearing, His Honour Judge Walters granted the Crown Prosecution Service 28 days to review Wilkinson’s Road Traffic Offences (32nd Edition), the leading legal reference text used by courts in motoring cases.

Addressing the court, the judge said the matter may still require further consideration, adding: “The court still might want to reconsider the sentence even if the insurance company is right. It does look as if different insurance companies do things in different ways.”

He added: “It is not in fact void, but it is voidable.”

Taylor maintains that a valid insurance policy was in force at the time of driving and argues that, in law, third-party cover cannot simply be cancelled because of an administrative licensing issue.

The appeal is due to return to Swansea Crown Court on March 27, when further legal argument is expected.

Crime

Pembroke Dock woman admits breaching community order

Published

4 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Magistrates revoke sentence after missed appointments

A PEMBROKE DOCK woman has admitted breaching the terms of a community order.

Shannon Charge, aged 30, of Pater Court, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Feb 2).

She admitted failing to attend a scheduled probation appointment and a drug dependency appointment.

Magistrates revoked the existing community order and ordered her to pay £60 in court costs.

The court heard the order related to earlier offences, for which she had been made subject to rehabilitation and drug treatment requirements. A further review hearing is listed for March 2.