A trip out to buy some ‘fast food’ has landed a Saundersfoot man in court after he was caught driving a vehicle without a valid licence and in possession of cannabis.
Twenty-two-year-old Dean William Rees, of High Street, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday, charged with driving a motor vehicle otherwise in accordance with a licence; and using a motor vehicle in a public place without third party insurance.
He was also charged with possessing 6 grams of cannabis. The defendant pleaded guilty to all three charges when he appeared in the dock.
Prosecutor Abul Hussain told the court that police officers stopped Mr. Rees in a Toyota Yaris on St. Peters Road in Johnston, on May 5, as the vehicle was showing up on their system as not having valid insurance.
“Mr. Rees appeared to be concealing something under the driver’s seat when he was pulled over, and officers could smell cannabis from within the vehicle. A search was conducted and a plastic bag containing cannabis with a street value of £16 was found under the seat.
“He told officers that he had a provisional driving licence and shouldn’t have been driving,” added Mr. Hussain.
Defence solicitor Mike Kelleher told the court that the cannabis was for Mr. Rees’ own personal use and that he had held a provisional driving licence for five to six years, but only tried his test once, which was unsuccessful.
“He was with a friend who suggested that they go for some ‘fast food’. Mr. Rees is not a full licence holder and neither was his passenger. He did not display L plates on his car, and this journey was a risk too far. He has six penalty points already and is a ‘totter’ so must be disqualified today,” he said.
Magistrates handed Mr. Rees a fine of £240 for having no valid insurance and fined him £240 for this offence. He was given a further three penalty points for having no licence and fined £80.
For the cannabis possession charge, magistrates fined Mr. Rees £160 and passed a destruction order for the drugs.
He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £30 victim surcharge.
Magistrates explained to the defendant that as a ‘totter’ with over 12 points, he would now be banned from driving for a period of six months.