Driver in fear for own safety

10:16am Thursday 25th September 2008

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Four ‘prolific offenders’ who jumped into a car and ordered the driver to drive them around Pembroke Dock on Sunday evening have appeared in court.

The four Pembroke Dock men appeared at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday all charged with affray.

Dean Boswell, aged 30, of 22 St Teilos Road, Stuart McKinley of 65 Hawkstone Road, Daniel Quinn of 55 Wavell Crescent and Stephen John of 34 Hamilton Court all pleaded guilty to affray.

The court heard how on Sunday evening at 5.30pm, Darren Connolly was on his way to visit his mother, for whom he is a carer, in Wavell Crescent, when four men stood in the road blocking his car from passing.

The court heard how Quinn, who was out on police licence after serving part of a 45-month jail term, got into the front passenger seat of Mr Connolly’s car and asked to be taken to Tesco along with Boswell, John and Mckinley who all got into the backseats of the car.

After telling the quartet he couldn’t, the court heard how Connolly ‘just went along with what they said’ in fear for his own safety.

Prosecutor David Wheale said Connolly had felt ‘intimidated and anxious.’ The court heard how John punched Connolly to the back of the head and the driver’s headrest was also thrown out of the car window as the males ‘messed about’.

Mr Wheale told the court John was shouting and swearing and said “give me the keys” as Mr Connolly got out of the car, walked away and used a stranger’s phone to call police.

In Mr Connolly’s statement, which was read out in court, he said “I’m scared of the repercussions of this incident.”

The presiding magistrate declined jurisdiction stating he felt their powers of sentencing were ‘insufficient’ as it was clear the quartet were ‘prolific offenders.’ McKinley, who also had a warrant outstanding for his arrest after a trail of common assault convicted him in September last year, in his absence.

The 26-year-old’s solicitor Alun Morgan said ‘alcohol is a significant issue’ and he hoped to address his alcohol issues.

The presiding magistrate ordered McKinley to serve four months in prison for assault and a further 14 days for bail act offences.

John, aged 34, Quinn and Boswell were all released on conditional bail including electronic tags.

Theey will appear at Swansea Crown Court for sentencing on October 24.

At the time of the Mercury going to press, a decision had not been made as to whether 22-year-old Quinn would be recalled to prison on his licence.