Crime

Court orders destruction of illegal fighting dog after owner fined

Published

3 months ago

September 4, 2024

A HAVERFORDWEST man has appeared before magistrates after being found to be in possession of a prohibited fighting dog.

On April 3, officers attended a property in Haverfordwest, following concerns that an XL Bully was being kept there, which is a breed prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

There they discovered Leon Jones, 26, together with a dog which they suspected of being an XL Bully. The dog was removed from the premises for a formal examination to be carried out, and this concluded that it was indeed a fighting dog and an XL Bully.

This week Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates that in January of this year, the same dog had bitten a young child, which had resulted in an injury. However Ms Jackson gave no details of the extent of the injury, nor its nature.

The Crown made an application for a destruction order to be made for the dog, plus compensation to cover the cost of kennelling since its discovery in April. This totalled £3,825.

However Jones’ solicitor, Katy Hanson, claimed the defendant always ensured that the dog was muzzled when it was taken outside, and was always walked on a lead. She said the defendant had also made an application to register the dog.

“His partner had made the application but there was some confusion,” she said.

“By the time he was notified, the date for registration had passed.”

Jones, of Fleming Crescent, Haverfordwert, pleaded guilty to being in possession of a fighting dog.

After considering the mitigation, magistrates fined Jones £120 and ordered him to pay £200 towards the kennelling costs, £85 prosecution costs and a £48 court surcharge.

Magistrates also ordered a destruction order on the dog, however if it is legally registered within 60 days, the dog will be allowed to survive.

Crime

Court hears man exposed his flaccid manhood ‘by accident’

Published

3 days ago

November 19, 2024

Court Reporter

A 21-YEAR-OLD Pembrokeshire man has appeared before magistrates charged with intentionally exposing his genitals in a public place.

Thomas Jones is accused of carrying out the act at a property in New Moat, Clarbeston Road, on November 9, 2022.

“The defendant knocked on the door of a female and offered his gardening services,” Crown prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“She accepted his offer and moved her car so that he could move his van, but when she turned around, she could see his flaccid penis was outside his trousers. When she pointed this out to him, he said he didn’t know that it was exposed.”

Jones denies the charge. He was released on unconditional bail to await his trial at Haverfordwest magistrates court on January 6.

Crime

Regular cocaine user from Milford Haven taken off the road

Published

3 days ago

November 19, 2024

Sarah Jane Absalom

A MILFORD HAVEN resident who admits to being a regular cocaine user has lost his driving licence after being found behind the wheel when he was 15 times over the legal Benzoylecgonine limit.

Teifion Morse, 41, was stopped by officers just before midnight on May 1 following reports that he was driving his Vauxhall Insignia along the A477 at excessive speeds.

“The vehicle was travelling westwards towards Kilgetty, and Teifion Morse was the driver and the sole occupant, “ Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

A roadside drugs wipe proved positive while further blood tests carried out at the police custody suite showed that Morse had 800 mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system (the legal limit is 50), and 20 mcg of cocaine. The legal limit is 10.

Ms James said that when Morse was spoken to by officers, he told them that he knew the readings would be positive. “I’ve done stupid amounts today,” he said.

Morse, of Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to two charges of drug driving. A probation report stated that since leaving the military five and a half years ago, Morse has suffered from mental health issues.

He’s been using cocaine as a coping mechanism,” said the probation officer. “He freely admits that he uses cocaine to help him cope, but it’s spiralled and is getting more and more out of control. He would like support to kick this habit.”

Morse chose to be legally unrepresented when he appeared before magistrates.

“It was my stupid fault and I’m trying to take the correct steps to get on the right path,” he said in mitigation.

Morse was sentenced to an 18-month community order during which he must carry out 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work. He was disqualified from driving for 15 months and must pay a £140 court surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Motorist manned from driving after being caught over limit

Published

3 days ago

November 19, 2024

Court Reporter

A PEMBROKE DOCK motorist has been ordered off the roads after driving through Pembroke town centre when he was over the drink-drive limit.

Just before 1am on October 31, police officers stopped a Vauxhall Zafira that was being driven along South Road by Cameron Sell, 23, who was exceeding the speed limit.

“He was acting erratically when he was speaking to the officer,” Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverofrdwest magistrates this week.

A roadside breath test proved positive and subsequent breath tests carried out at the police station showed Sell had 42 mcg of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35.

After considering the facts, magistrates fined Sell £300 and ordered him to pay a £120 court surcharge and £85 costs. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.