The drink-drivers brought before the courts in Wales this year

We have reported on a range of Welsh drink-driving cases this year – from a bare-chested man in a high-speed chase to a tradesman who drove head-on towards an ambulance. Some of the cases resulted in near-misses while others ended in tragedy. One young driver ignored his passengers’ screams to stop “showing off” before crashing with devastating consequences.

Another case involved a father who smashed through a resort’s security barriers and ended up flipping his vehicle with his daughter inside. Drink-driving carries a minimum 12-month driving ban. The alcohol limit for drivers is 35mcg per 100ml of breath or 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

Below are some of the defendants who have appeared in Welsh courts in 2023 for breaching the limit. For the latest court reports, sign up to our crime newsletter here[1] DON’T MISS: The man with probably the longest criminal record in Wales[3]

Sophie Aherne

Sophie Aherne leaves court

Sophie Aherne from Cardiff crashed her car while at double the alcohol limit[4]. She was sentenced at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court in March after losing control of the vehicle near Llantwit Major rugby club at around 10.10pm on November 26 last year.

Prosecutor Beth Tucker said a local resident had heard a “loud bang” and saw what he believed to be a male behind the wheel of a car which had been crashed near the Boverton Road club. But when police arrived it was 20-year-old Aherne sitting in the driver’s seat. Ms Tucker said: “Police say keys were in the ignition and the defendant was intoxicated and uncompliant.

She said she had been driving but would not give a name. On the way to custody she was very uncompliant with officers and is said to have spat five or more times in the back of the police van. This caused a bill of GBP106.09 to have the van cleaned.”

At the police station Aherne, from Fairwater, blew 70mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. She pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving without a licence or insurance, and criminal damage caused by the spitting. Her solicitor Nathan Jones said Aherne, who had no previous convictions, received benefits and would be able to pay a financial penalty at a rate of GBP20 a month.

He asked she be allowed to take a drink-driving awareness course which would cut her ban by about a quarter. District Judge David Webster imposed 60 hours of unpaid work, 15 days of rehabilitation activity, GBP106.09 in compensation for the South Wales Police[5] cleaning bill, and a victim services surcharge of GBP114. He banned Aherne from driving for 18 months and agreed to offer the course, which is run by the IAM RoadSmart charity.

Elliot Lucas

Elliot Lucas (Image: South Wales Police)

Elliot Lucas ignored the pleas and screams of his passengers to stop “showing off” – before crashing and causing his car to burst into flames with one of the occupants trapped inside.

Lucas, 20, was at more than twice the alcohol limit when he crashed his Fiat Punto on the A4232 in Cardiff on September 1 last year[6]. There were six people in the car at the time of the crash. During his sentencing in October 2023 Cardiff Crown Court[7] heard Lucas was speeding at an average of 87mph to 89mph before the crash.

His friends described being “thrown around” the vehicle as a result of his driving. Two suffered permanent injuries and one was left in a wheelchair for weeks. Lucas told police he had drunk a pint of lager, three mojito cocktails, and a Long Island iced tea at pubs in Llantwit Major before the crash.

His passengers had screamed at him to slow down, the court heard. The group of friends were heading to Cardiff city centre when Lucas approached a right-hand bend, overtook a milk delivery van, and drove too close to the central reservation causing him to clip the kerb. In response he dramatically overreacted and lost control of his vehicle.

The Punto left the dual carriageway on the left side, hit the embankment, and collided with a tree before bursting into flames. One woman was slumped unconscious and trapped inside before the fire service managed to free her. She suffered burst lungs, four fractures to her wrist, a broken pelvis, spinal problems, and lost most of her hair due to the fire.

Another of the passengers sustained a spleen injury which will require him to take antibiotics for the rest of his life. Lucas’ sample showed 124mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. In his police interview he claimed he felt all right to drive and denied showing off but conceded the alcohol could have affected his driving.

A couple of weeks before the collision a Snapchat video showed he had filmed himself driving at almost 120mph and steering using his knees. Lucas, of Tre-Beferad, Boverton, pleaded guilty to four counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. In mitigation William Bebb said of Lucas: “He’s normally hardworking, polite, and kind but he now faces the unfamiliar and terrifying prospect of custody.” And Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke told the defendant: “It’s clear from what you said to the probation officer you still don’t fully comprehend the severity of the lasting impact on the victims and I put that down to your immaturity.” Lucas was sentenced to three years and four months in a young offenders’ institution and banned from driving for eight years and eight months.

Daniel Harley

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Once-promising rugby player Daniel Harley showed “absolute lunacy” as he led police on a high-speed car chase[8].

Dashcam footage captured the former Cardiff Rugby academy flanker driving dangerously for four minutes before ending up in a cul-de-sac and emerging from his car bare-chested. The 22-year-old was sentenced at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court in March following a pursuit in the early hours of July 29 last year in Ely. A police officer had stopped Harley and was standing next to his red Renault Clio preparing to take his alcohol reading.

But when the officer asked him to take his keys out of the ignition Harley sped off. The chase started at 2.55am and lasted four minutes as Harley hurtled along Cowbridge Road West and residential areas of Ely and Caerau. Several police cars chased Harley as he ran red lights.

He did multiple loops of one roundabout, narrowly missed a police car while coming off another, and went the wrong way on a third. Failing to lose his pursuers he eventually parked on a dead-end street before getting out of the car shirtless and being arrested.

Daniel Harley exits his Renault Clio after police pursuit in Cardiff (Image: Crown Prosecution Service / South Wales Police)

Harley, of Tyr-Y-Sarn Road in Rumney, pleaded guilty to driving dangerously with 110mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood as well as failing to stop for police and using a handheld phone while driving. His solicitor Peter Obradovic said Harley, who already had nine points on his driving licence, was once a “promising young player” for Cardiff Rugby.

Mr Obradovic revealed his client had sped off in “an act of absolute lunacy” because he feared he would be arrested for drink-driving. “A custodial sentence would be absolutely devastating for him,” he added. District Judge Steve Harmes took into account that there were no pedestrians in the area because it was so early, adding: “It’s his first offence of this type albeit he has a record of speeding and going through traffic lights, which is poor at the age of 22.” The judge said there was a “realistic prospect” of rehabilitation. He imposed a six-month jail term suspended for two years, a two-year driving ban, 100 hours of unpaid work, 18 days of rehabilitation activity, a GBP154 victim services surcharge, and GBP85 in prosecution costs.

Linda Newbury

Linda Newbury leaves Cardiff Magistrates’ Court

Linda Newbury drove her car into another vehicle after drinking “a large measure of vodka”.

The 54-year-old was well over double the alcohol limit when she crashed in Barry[9], Cardiff Magistrates’ Court heard during her sentencing in January. Prosecutor Mike Williams said a police officer was on routine patrol at 8.15pm on November 21 last year when he was asked to attend a crash scene in Kenilworth Road. A Ford Fiesta had been in collision with a Mazda6 which had sustained damage to its front nearside.

A member of the public informed the officer that Newbury had gone into a nearby care home following the crash. “The officer spoke to the defendant who indicated she was sorry and she had accidentally hit a car,” Mr Williams told the court. Newbury, of Rhoose, blew 111mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath at the scene and was then tested again at Cardiff Bay[10] police station where she blew 97mcg.

She told police she had drunk alcohol that day including a “large measure of vodka” – possibly four shots. Newbury pleaded guilty to drink-driving. She had only one previous offence on her record – an assault from 1998.

Representing herself Newbury said nothing in mitigation other than to point out the relevant information was already in the probation service’s report, which was not read out in court. Presiding Justice Mohammed Yakub took into account that there was a crash and a “very high reading”. The magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement, a GBP120 fine, GBP114 victim services surcharge, and GBP85 in prosecution costs.

Mr Yakub said a 24-month driving ban would be reduced by 24 weeks if Newbury completed a driving rehabilitation course.

Thomas Evans

Thomas Evans

Thomas Evans crashed through security barriers at Newport’s Celtic Manor resort while at almost double the drink-driving limit and with his six-year-old daughter in a booster seat beside him. He then drove onto the M4 and flipped his car[11]. Police officers discovered Thomas Evans and his daughter inside the overturned vehicle in the early hours of August 19.

Newport[12] Magistrates’ Court heard Evans, 35, had become outraged during a visit to the resort when bar staff asked him to exit the venue at around 11pm because his daughter was too young to be there so late in the evening. Rob Simpkins, prosecuting, told the court Evans assaulted a member of security staff before eventually leaving the bar area and heading to his room. But at around 12.30am CCTV footage captured Evans walking out of the hotel room with his daughter and getting into his car.

Mr Simpkins explained how security guards realised Evans was about to drive off while probably above the drink-drive limit and they immediately closed the security barriers. But Evans decided to crash through them with his daughter in the passenger seat. Security called Gwent Police[13] and officers spotted Evans at the Coryton Interchange on the M4[14].

He only stopped when the vehicle overturned at Gwaelod-y-Garth Road in Pontypridd[15]. Officers removed Evans and his crying daughter from the vehicle. Evans blew 67mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

Catherine Thompson, mitigating, said her client had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity to assault, criminal damage, and driving with excess alcohol. She told the court Evans had returned to Celtic Manor the day after the incident offering GBP500 in compensation for the damage. “He is incredibly remorseful and takes full responsibility for this,” she said. “He understands what it has done to his family also.” Evans, of Clos Dyfodwg, Llantwit Fardre, Rhondda[16] Cynon Taf, was jailed for 12 weeks.

The defendant, who offers marketing services to finance companies, was banned from driving for 42 months and told to pay GBP100 in compensation and a GBP154 victim services surcharge.

Lee Jones

Lee Jones leaves court (Image: Conor Gogarty)

Lee Jones, who had never passed the driving test, got behind the wheel in the early hours of May 14 following a drinking session. The 37-year-old was caught driving on the wrong side of a major Bridgend road while at more than double the alcohol limit[17]. Prosecutor Emily Shopland told Cardiff[18] Magistrates’ Court that a police officer attended the area after a witness reported concerns over a driver who appeared to be drunk.

At around 2.45am the officer spotted a blue Peugeot travelling on the wrong side of the A4093 and then rolling to a stop. Jones, of Heol Glyn Goch in Gilfach Goch, got out and admitted he only had a provisional driving licence. He blew 77mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath and later pleaded guilty to drink-driving without a licence or insurance.

Louis Dawe, mitigating, said his client had no relevant previous convictions, adding: “He doesn’t know why he got in the vehicle… He now realises it was a foolish decision but there were no passengers and he hadn’t been in trouble since 2016.” Presiding Justice Nigel Buckland imposed a 23-month driving disqualification, GBP120 fine, GBP85 in prosecution costs, and a GBP48 victim services surcharge.

Jones was told to pay at a rate of GBP20 a month. Because he had never passed his driving test he could not be offered a drivers’ rehabilitation course to shorten the length of the ban.

Gary Hillman

Gary Hillman (Image: North Wales Police)

Gary Hillman crashed his work van twice and set off his airbags before continuing to drive on the wrong side of the road towards an ambulance. The 48-year-old was more than three times the drink-drive limit when he drove through Bangor[19] on the afternoon of January 5.

He later told police he had been drinking vodka and had been knocked unconscious during one of the crashes. Caernarfon Crown Court[20] heard Hillman had collided with a security fence in Llandygai Industrial Estate after going too fast around a corner. He failed to stop and report the crash.

Hillman entered the A55 but as he approached the Puffin roundabout he crashed into the central reservation which resulted in his airbags being deployed. The judge, Recorder IWL Jones, said: “You should have left it at that but what you did was sheer lunacy.” The defendant turned round on the A55 back in the direction of Bangor, sticking his head out of the driver’s side window in order to see over the airbags.

He was said to be driving slowly but veered onto the wrong side of the road and travelled for three-quarters of a mile. At one stage he drove head-on towards an ambulance which had its blue lights illuminated and sirens on though a collision was averted. Hillman, of Glan Fedw, Betws Yn Rhos, Conwy[21], was stopped by police in Pemaenmawr.

A blood test revealed he had 249mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. He later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol, and failing to stop. He has one previous conviction related to violence in 2021.

In mitigation Ember-Jade Wong said her client was remorseful and had “hit rock bottom” at the time of the offence. She said he recognised there was a problem and has been in contact with Alcoholics Anonymous in order to rebuild his life. He was jailed for 12 months and banned from driving for two years and six months.

Shane Loughlin

Shane Loughlin was a passenger at the time of a fatal car crash while killed three others (Image: WALES NEWS SERVICE)

Shane Loughlin, a survivor of a Cardiff crash which resulted in the deaths of three people, was caught drink-driving just months after the fatal collision.

The 32-year-old was the passenger of a Volkswagen Tiguan which veered off the A48 near St Mellons[22] in the early hours of March 4 this year and crashed into woodland. Driver Rafel Jeanne, 24, and passengers Eve Smith, 21, and Darcy Ross, 21, were killed. The group were trapped in the wreckage for 48 hours before they were discovered.

Loughlin was one of two occupants to survive. A police investigation discovered videos showing Loughlin had filming himself inhaling nitrous oxide while driving the car at up to 90mph on the night of the crash though he was not behind the wheel at the time of the collision. Loughlin, of Greenway Road in Rumney, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

He was jailed for one year and five months[23] at Cardiff Crown Court on September 15 as well as receiving a driving ban of two years, eight months, and two weeks. He later appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court over an incident that saw him arrested in the early hours of September 2. Loughlin was stopped by police in Aberporth Road, Llandaff North, after officers grew concerned by the manner of his driving a Ford Fiesta.

He blew 46mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath and admitted drink-driving while disqualified and without insurance. Loughlin was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment to run at the same time as his other sentence. He was also disqualified from driving for a further 38 months.

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Katrina Mahoney

Katrina Mahoney outside court (Image: WALES NEWS SERVICE)

Nurse Katrina Mahoney was more than twice the drink-driving limit when she killed an elderly man crossing the road last Christmas[27] Eve. Mahoney, 34, had gone out to buy cigarettes when she struck Ron Fealey, 82, in Merthyr Tydfil[28] and failed to stop despite her windshield smashing and her 15-year-old son being in the car.

Bystanders had to step in to help Mr Fealey who died two days later from a traumatic brain injury. Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court[29] heard Mahoney left the victim bleeding and unconscious in the road before dropping her son home and returning to the Avenue de Clichy crash scene with a nursing friend. She claimed she had drunk one Malibu and Bailey’s but a breathalyser test revealed she had 73mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

Mr Fealey, a retired nurse, church treasurer, and director at Dowlais rugby club, had visited The Winchester pub in Merthyr Tydfil on the evening of the crash. He left the pub around 9.50pm and was seen on CCTV walking on the pavement towards Avenue de Clichy. Mahoney was driving at 40mph in a 20mph zone and in the process of overtaking when she hit Mr Fealey in the right-hand lane of the carriageway.

After fleeing Mahoney returned and told a police officer: “That’s my car yes. You can see the damage that is done. He literally just wandered in front of me.”

Mahoney, of Hawthorn Avenue, Gurnos, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while unfit through drink as well as drink-driving. She had no previous convictions. In a statement Mr Fealey’s family expressed their grief at the loss of the great-grandfather.

His son Michael, also a qualified nurse, said: “Imagine my horror when I found out the person who had done this was drunk, a registered nurse, and had her child in the car when she left my father unconscious in the road. She didn’t even call an ambulance.” In mitigation Tim Evans said Mahoney had struggled with her mental health during the Christmas period following the death of her mother, best friend, and two of her brothers.

The court heard she had discovered her mother hanged on the day of her best friend’s funeral.

In a letter to the court Mahoney said: “I will never forgive myself for what I have done and I’d like the family to know I am so sorry.” Judge Lucy Crowther jailed her for five years and banned her from driving for seven and a half years.

You can read our tribute piece to Mr Fealey here[30].

References

1. ^ For the latest court reports, sign up to our crime newsletter here (www.walesonline.co.uk)
2. ^ Couple kept 12 dogs at home in disgusting and filthy conditions (www.walesonline.co.uk)
3. ^ The man with probably the longest criminal record in Wales (www.walesonline.co.uk)
4. ^ crashed her car while at double the alcohol limit (www.walesonline.co.uk)
5. ^ South Wales Police (www.walesonline.co.uk)
6. ^ crashed his Fiat Punto on the A4232 in Cardiff on September 1 last year (www.walesonline.co.uk)
7. ^ Cardiff Crown Court (www.walesonline.co.uk)
8. ^ showed “absolute lunacy” as he led police on a high-speed car chase (www.walesonline.co.uk)
9. ^ well over double the alcohol limit when she crashed in Barry (www.walesonline.co.uk)
10. ^ Cardiff Bay (www.walesonline.co.uk)
11. ^ drove onto the M4 and flipped his car (www.walesonline.co.uk)
12. ^ Newport (www.walesonline.co.uk)
13. ^ Gwent Police (www.walesonline.co.uk)
14. ^ the M4 (www.walesonline.co.uk)
15. ^ Pontypridd (www.walesonline.co.uk)
16. ^ Rhondda (www.walesonline.co.uk)
17. ^ on the wrong side of a major Bridgend road while at more than double the alcohol limit (www.walesonline.co.uk)
18. ^ Cardiff (www.walesonline.co.uk)
19. ^ Bangor (www.walesonline.co.uk)
20. ^ Caernarfon Crown Court (www.walesonline.co.uk)
21. ^ Conwy (www.walesonline.co.uk)
22. ^ St Mellons (www.walesonline.co.uk)
23. ^ was jailed for one year and five months (www.walesonline.co.uk)
24. ^ appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court (www.walesonline.co.uk)
25. ^ Apple (apps.apple.com)
26. ^ Android (play.google.com)
27. ^ Christmas (www.walesonline.co.uk)
28. ^ Merthyr Tydfil (www.walesonline.co.uk)
29. ^ Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court (www.walesonline.co.uk)
30. ^ read our tribute piece to Mr Fealey here (www.walesonline.co.uk)