Crime

London man caught shoplifting receives conditional discharge

Published

2 months ago

September 12, 2024

A MAN who travelled from London to west Wales has been found with thousands of pounds worth of suspected stolen goods after being stopped in a supermarket car park.

Giorgi Khvedelidze, 47, was apprehended by police in the car park of Lidl in Milford Haven on 3rd July. Following a search of his vehicle, officers discovered items worth approximately £5,000, many of which still bore security tags, according to prosecutor Alycia Carpanini. The goods were believed to have been taken from various retailers, including Tesco, Asda, and Boots.

Among the recovered items were razor blades, electric toothbrushes, and nicotine products. Tools typically associated with shoplifting, such as a magnet, four pairs of scissors, a pocket knife, and a screwdriver, were also found inside Khvedelidze’s car.

Ms Carpanini explained that Khvedelidze had travelled to Pembrokeshire from London, stopping en route in Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire. Some of the stolen goods were traced back to the Tesco store in Cardigan, where CCTV footage showed Khvedelidze entering the store on the afternoon of 3rd July. He was seen placing some items in his basket and others in a bag before paying only for the basketed goods. Following a stock check, Tesco confirmed £732 worth of merchandise was missing.

During his hearing, Khvedelidze, of Western Avenue, North Acton, pleaded guilty to shoplifting and going equipped for theft. His defence solicitor, Mr Bowen, told the court that his client’s behaviour stemmed from the recent loss of his mother.

Although Bowen acknowledged that the grief did not excuse Khvedelidze’s actions, he offered it as a possible explanation for his mental state at the time. He also emphasised that Khvedelidze had no previous criminal record and was eager to turn his life around, including seeking employment as soon as his asylum status allowed.

“He’s eager to tackle his issues relating to substance misuse,” Bowen added, noting that his client had already reduced his drug usage since arriving in the UK.

The judge, Recorder Aidan Eardley, acknowledged that Khvedelidze had already spent two months in custody, equating to a four-month sentence. Given his time served and personal circumstances, the judge sentenced him to a 12-month conditional discharge.

This means that Khvedelidze will face no further punishment unless he commits another offence within the next year.

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.