Driving instructor four times over limit was on his way to collect pupil for lesson

Timothy Howells, 54, was arrested after his car was found in a roadside ditch on the A484 between Pembrey and Kidwelly at around 7.38am on Friday, 20 February.

Officers who attended the single-vehicle collision reported that Howells appeared heavily intoxicated and an initial roadside breath test reading showed 110 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

He was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and taken into custody, where a second evidential breath test reading showed 132 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath — four times over the legal limit of 35 micrograms.

In interview, Howells admitted that when he was arrested by officers, he was on his way to collect a pupil for a driving lesson.

Howells appeared at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 24 February, where he was sentenced to eight weeks in custody, suspended for 18 months.

Chief Inspector Christina Fraser from Dyfed-Powys Police said the case was an excellent example of teamwork by officers in removing a heavily intoxicated man in a position of great trust and responsibility from the road.

“Excellent example of teamwork by our officers in removing a heavily intoxicated man in a position of great trust and responsibility off the road; safeguarding both his driving school pupil and other drivers from a very high risk of serious harm,” Chief Inspector Fraser said.

The legal drink-drive limit in England and Wales is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. Howells’ reading of 132 was nearly four times this limit.

Driving instructors are required to hold an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) licence from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which can be revoked if the holder is convicted of certain offences including drink driving.

Driver admits causing death of Llanpumsaint dog walker Aaron Jones

Aaron, 38, died after being hit while out walking in his home village on the evening of 23 December. The driver, Daniel Wyke, was arrested the following day as police launched a major investigation.

Wyke, 28, from Llanybri, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

He denied a second charge of dangerous driving relating to an incident on Water Street in Carmarthen on the same night. Prosecutors told the court they will not pursue a separate trial on that count, saying the condition of the vehicle after the fatal collision — including extensive windscreen damage — will instead be treated as an aggravating feature when Wyke is sentenced.

Judge Paul Thomas KC set a provisional sentencing date for 30 March and ordered a pre‑sentence report. A Newton hearing will take place beforehand to determine the factual basis of Wyke’s guilty plea.

Wyke was granted bail and has been disqualified from driving.

Aaron’s death prompted a huge outpouring of grief in the Llanpumsaint community, with friends and neighbours describing him as a kind, gentle man who was well‑known locally.

Wyke was charged almost a year after the fatal hit‑and‑run as detectives continued to piece together what happened that night.

Man charged a year on from fatal Llanpumsaint hit‑and‑run

Aaron, 38, was struck near Caer Salem Baptist Chapel on 23 December 2024. His body was later found in the churchyard and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Flowers were laid nearby as the tight‑knit community mourned the loss of a man described as “tragic” by local councillor Bryan Davies.

Arrest and charges

Daniel Wyke, 28, from Carmarthen, was arrested the day after the crash. A year on from the tragedy, he has now been charged with causing death by dangerous driving and dangerous driving. He is due to appear before Llanelli Magistrates Court on Thursday 15 January 2026.

Police confirmed the vehicle believed to be involved was located after a manhunt.

Inquest details

An inquest opening in January heard how Aaron’s dog was found by a passer‑by, who contacted his wife and sparked a missing person’s search. Coroner’s officer Malcolm Thompson told the hearing Aaron was hit by a car at around 7.20pm, and that the vehicle failed to stop.

Assistant coroner Gareth Lewis adjourned the inquest to a later date while police enquiries continued.

Community impact

The incident shocked the rural village. Llanpumsaint Park cancelled its Santa Parade on Christmas Eve, extending “deepest sympathies” to Aaron’s family. Residents spoke of their grief, with tributes left at the chapel where Aaron’s body was found.

Police statement

Sergeant Sara John of Dyfed‑Powys Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit said:

“Our thoughts remain with Aaron’s family, who continue to be at the heart of this investigation.

We recognise that this has been a lengthy investigation, and I am grateful to Aaron’s family, and the wider community, for their patience and support while our enquiries have been carried out.

We will continue to support Aaron’s family as the case progresses, and we seek to provide justice for Aaron and his loved ones.”

Aaron’s family have asked for privacy at this time.

#dangerousDriving #DyfedPowysPolice #fatalAccident #hitAndRun #Llanpumsaint #RoadTrafficAccident

Police crack down on speeding drivers after livestock deaths on Gower commons

Officers warn of dangers as nights draw in

PC Chadwick from the Gower Neighbourhood Policing team said the 40mph limit across the commons is a maximum, not a target:

“With the darker nights drawing in, it is more difficult to spot the cattle on the road. When passing the animals, please give lots of space and be ready for sudden movements by the animals.”

Police say speed enforcement vehicles will be deployed alongside local officers, with patrols targeting hotspots where animals roam freely. Collisions must by law be reported, even if the animal walks away, so farmers can be alerted to possible injuries.

Long‑standing safety concerns

The warning comes after years of concern about road safety on the commons. BBC News reported in 2018 that more than 100 animals were killed in collisions over a five‑year period, prompting calls for tougher enforcement. In 2024, campaigners again urged drivers to slow down, highlighting the ongoing risks to cattle, ponies and foals.

Tragic incidents highlight the risk

Several high‑profile crashes have shocked the community. In 2019, three cows died after being struck by a Mercedes. In 2021, a van collided with a cow, while other incidents have seen foals killed, sparking sadness and anger among residents.

Farmers say the commons are unique and part of what makes Gower special, but warn that careless driving continues to threaten both animals and people.

Police message to drivers

South Wales Police are urging motorists to respect the animals’ right to roam and adjust their driving to conditions:

“The commons are unique, and the livestock are part of what makes Gower special. We want everyone to enjoy the area safely — that means respecting the animals and the law.”

#cattle #fairwoodCommon #gower #gowerCommons #gowerPonies #horses #motoring #roadTrafficAccident #southWalesPolice #speeding

Carjacker sentenced after terrifying robbery of Swansea taxi driver

Threatened with scissors in Waunarlwydd

Swansea Crown Court heard that Nicholas Daniel, 34, of Felindre, was picked up by a Yellow Cabs driver in Waunarlwydd on 29 July 2024. After stopping at a shop on Old Swansea Road, Daniel returned to the vehicle with alcohol, produced scissors from his waistband, and held them close to the driver’s stomach.

“I’m serious. I don’t want to hurt you. You have to get out,” he told the cabbie.

The driver grabbed his phone and money bag but was forced to leave the keys. Daniel slid into the driver’s seat and drove off.

High‑speed chase through Swansea streets

The stolen Skoda Octavia was spotted in Morriston around 7.30pm. Officers described Daniel’s driving as “erratic” — swerving across the road, hitting speeds of 60mph, and narrowly missing other vehicles and a motorcyclist.

Police cars were rammed as they tried to box him in. A stinger device was deployed, but Daniel swerved, hit a traffic island, and crashed into parked and oncoming cars. The taxi was written off, as was a vehicle belonging to a community mental health nurse.

When arrested, Daniel told officers he had planned to drive to Worm’s Head on Gower and end his life by going over the cliffs.

Family’s pleas for help before robbery

The court heard Daniel’s family had tried to get him help in the weeks before the robbery as his mental health deteriorated. Psychiatric reports diagnosed him with schizophrenia and severe personality disorder (schizoaffective disorder).

Judge Catherine Richards said Daniel had been suffering from acute psychosis at the time, including persecutory and command hallucinations.

She told the court that without his mental health condition, Daniel would have faced a “significant” prison sentence.

CPS: ‘Taxi drivers should not face threats of violence’

Abul Hussain, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS Cymru‑Wales, said:

“Nicholas Daniel brazenly robbed a taxi driver of his vehicle in broad daylight, then drove dangerously and crashed as he was trying to flee. His actions were reckless and put other people at risk.

Taxi drivers provide a valuable public service and should not have to face threats of violence from customers.”

Hospital order and driving ban

On 1 October 2025, Daniel was made subject to a hospital order under section 37 of the Mental Health Act with a section 41 restriction order without limit of time. He was also disqualified from driving for two years and ordered to take an extended test.

Daniel had pleaded guilty to robbery, dangerous driving, failing to provide a specimen, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, and driving without insurance.

The court also heard he had previous convictions, including two robberies in Waunarlwydd shops in 2009 and 2012.

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#carjacking #CPS #CrownProsecutionService #Felindre #mentalHealth #MentalHealthAct #personalityDisorder #psychosis #RoadTrafficAccident #robbery #schizophrenia #Taxi #Waunarlwydd

Police seize hundreds of illegal e‑scooters across South and Mid Wales

Rising seizures in South Wales and Dyfed‑Powys

Figures obtained through Freedom of Information requests show that South Wales Police have confiscated 272 e‑scooters since 2022, while Dyfed‑Powys Police have seized 99 over the same period. Officers say the vehicles are being taken off the streets for a range of reasons — from being uninsured under the Road Traffic Act, to being used in drug offences, assaults and thefts.

In South Wales, seizures peaked at 90 in 2023, with another 81 taken in 2024 and 43 already removed in the first half of 2025. Dyfed‑Powys recorded 37 seizures in 2022/23, 19 in 2023/24, and 43 in 2024/25.

Both forces stress that the figures are not just about nuisance riding. In Swansea, three drug dealers were jailed after being stopped on an e‑scooter, while in Milford Haven a crash involving a scooter led police to uncover a £15,000 drug stash.

Collisions and safety concerns

South Wales Police also confirmed that e‑scooters were involved in five road traffic collisions between 2022 and 2024 – three in Swansea and two in Cardiff. Because private e‑scooters cannot be insured, riders involved in crashes face the same consequences as uninsured drivers, including fines, penalty points and liability for compensation.

Nationally, government figures show that 416 people were seriously injured in e‑scooter collisions in 2023. Fire services have also raised alarms over battery safety, after an e‑bike battery exploded in Port Tennant, sparking an early‑morning blaze.

Police powers and crackdowns

To tackle the problem, police have been given new powers to crush seized e‑scooters and off‑road bikes within 48 hours if they are used antisocially. South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Emma Wools said the vehicles are often linked to organised crime and serious violence, and swift disposal sends a clear message.

In Swansea city centre, Operation Lathyrus saw officers seize 17 e‑bikes and make seven arrests in a single day, with police warning that more than 30% of bikes stopped were illegal or dangerously modified.

Debate over regulation

While enforcement has intensified, the debate over e‑scooter safety continues. A RoSPA study found that e‑scooters had a collision rate five times lower than bicycles and nine times lower than motorcycles — but most incidents occurred in areas without regulated rental schemes, suggesting that illegal private use is far riskier.

Police and trading standards have repeatedly warned parents not to buy e‑scooters as Christmas presents, reminding them that private models cannot legally be used on roads, pavements or cycle paths.

Government vows crackdown on unsafe e‑scooter use

The UK Government says a second national evaluation of the e‑scooter trials is under way, focusing on user and public safety, accessibility impacts, and how the vehicles could be integrated into the wider transport network.

A spokesperson said:

“The Government is giving the police stronger powers to stop vehicles being used disruptively, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing illegally owned private e‑scooters. This will allow them to deal swiftly with dangerous e‑scooters on pavements.

“New Respect Orders will give the police and local councils powers to ban persistent offenders from certain areas where they are causing harm, and failure to comply with Respect Orders will be a criminal offence.”

Ministers argue that the measures will help police act more quickly against unsafe and antisocial use, while also ensuring that lessons from the ongoing rental trials inform any future legislation.

“Behind the numbers are real risks”

Campaigners warn that the rise in seizures reflects not only tougher enforcement but also the growing number of people using e‑scooters illegally.

A spokesperson for Personal Injury Claims UK, which compiled the national data, said:

“If an e‑scooter rider causes a collision, they face the same consequences as a car driver – including liability for personal injury compensation. The figures highlight the risks for both riders and the public.”

Related articles

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• RoSPA study finds e-scooters five times safer than bicycles
• E-bike battery explodes during charging, sparking early morning fire in Port Tennant
• Parents warned of pitfalls of buying e-scooters this Christmas

#DyfedPowysPolice #eBike #eScooter #eScooterSeizure #illegalEBikes #illegalEScooter #LithiumBattery #offRoadBikes #RoadTrafficAccident #RoSPA #SouthWalesPolice

Milk tanker carrying 28,000 litres crashes off Carmarthenshire road

The incident happened at 10.59am on Monday (September 29) on a rural road between Ffynnon‑ddrain and Cynwyl Elfed, a few miles north of Carmarthen.

Fire service response

A crew from Carmarthen Fire Station attended, supported by Dyfed‑Powys Police, the Ambulance Service, the Highways Department and Carmarthenshire Council.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the tanker, which was carrying around 28,000 litres of milk, had left the roadway and travelled down an embankment. Firefighters worked to stop milk from escaping the vehicle and to make the scene safe.

The crew left the scene at 12.43pm.

Driver taken to hospital

The driver of the tanker was treated at the roadside by paramedics before being taken to hospital by ambulance. No further details about their condition have been released.

Multi‑agency operation

Police officers managed traffic in the area while highways officials assessed the road and embankment. Local authority staff were also involved in the clean‑up operation.

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#Carmarthen #CynwylElfed #FfynnonDdrain #MidAndWestWalesFireAndRescueService #Milk #milkTanker #RoadTrafficAccident #tanker

Driver jailed after four‑year‑old girl seriously injured in Carmarthen collision

Jolanta Motiejuniene, 48, of Lesley Street, Port Talbot, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (26 September 2025) after being found guilty of causing serious injury by careless driving. She was also disqualified from driving for 20 months.

The incident happened on 20 February 2023 in Waun Burgess, Carmarthen, when Motiejuniene was carrying out charity collections in a Mercedes Sprinter van. Shortly after 11am, the van struck the child, who was riding a balance bike on the estate.

The girl sustained life‑threatening injuries and continues to recover more than two years later.

Family statement

In a statement, the child’s family said:

“Two years ago our lives were turned upside down due to the injuries caused to our beautiful daughter. We have witnessed and suffered trauma that no parent should go through, trauma which could have been avoided if the driver was simply looking where she was going.

We are forever grateful to the Crown Court Judge, Jury, Prosecution Barrister and Dyfed‑Powys Police for getting our daughter the justice she deserves. Our thanks also go to the NHS staff at Glangwili and Noah’s Ark hospitals, the Air Ambulance crew, our daughter’s physiotherapists and our family and friends whose love, support and care has helped us through an extremely worrying and traumatic couple of years.”

Police response

PC Lucy Peppiatt, from Dyfed‑Powys Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said:

“We welcome the sentencing of Motiejuniene, whose careless driving on that day led to the serious injury of a very young child, in an avoidable collision.

This sentence goes some way to seeing justice done, and we also hope it serves as a stark reminder to drivers of the serious consequences of driving in a careless and thoughtless manner – putting vulnerable pedestrians at risk.”

Related articles

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#carelessDriving #Carmarthen #DyfedPowysPolice #PortTalbot #RoadTrafficAccident #SeriousCollisionInvestigationUnit #WaunBurgess

Motorcyclist dies after crash closes major Swansea route for more than 10 hours

Emergency services were called to the A484 at Gorseinon just after 8pm on Thursday (25 September). Despite the efforts of the Fire Service, Welsh Ambulance Service and South Wales Police’s Roads Policing Unit, the rider of the motorcycle was pronounced dead at the scene.

South Wales Police said the man’s family are being supported by specially trained officers and the coroner has been informed.

Road closed overnight

The crash led to the closure of the A484 in both directions between Tesco Fforestfach roundabout and Garngoch roundabout. Police warned drivers to avoid the area, with diversions causing heavy congestion on surrounding routes including Swansea Road.

The road remained closed for more than 10 hours while collision investigators examined the scene. It was confirmed reopened shortly before 10am on Friday morning.

Appeal for witnesses

A South Wales Police spokesperson said:

“Officers received a report of a collision involving a motorcycle and a car on the A484 at Gorseinon just after 8pm on Thursday September 25. Despite the efforts of the Fire Service, Ambulance and Roads Policing Unit, the rider of the motorcycle – a man in his 60s – died at the scene. The coroner is aware and the man’s family is being supported by trained officers.”

Police have appealed for anyone with information about the crash to come forward, quoting reference 2500308050.

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#A484 #fatalAccident #featured #GardenVillage #Garngoch #Gorseinon #motorbike #RoadTrafficAccident #SouthWalesPolice

Two taken to hospital after car leaves road near Llwynhendy

Emergency response

The alarm was raised at around 8.15pm on Tuesday, 23 September, when a private vehicle left the B4304 and came to rest close to a water channel.

Crews from Carmarthen and Llanelli fire stations cut back sections of woodland to create an access route, before using a rescue sled to extricate the casualties. A specialist rescue team and wading team were also deployed.

Both casualties were handed into the care of the Welsh Ambulance Service and taken to hospital with what were described as minor injuries.

Police statement

Dyfed‑Powys Police confirmed officers attended the scene alongside fire and ambulance crews. A spokesperson said:

“Dyfed‑Powys Police attended to a report of a single‑vehicle road traffic collision on the B4304 near Llwynhendy at around 8.15pm on Tuesday 23 September. Two people were taken to hospital. The road was closed while emergency services attended the scene and reopened at around 11.50pm.”

Road closure

The B4304 was shut for more than three hours while emergency services worked at the scene, reopening shortly before midnight.

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Baglan to Port Talbot road closed after ‘serious collision’
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Police officer sentenced for careless driving after crashing police car while on duty
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#DyfedPowysPolice #Llanelli #Llwynhendy #MidAndWestWalesFireAndRescueService #RoadTrafficAccident #waterRescue