A man who had recently been banned from driving sparked a major collision near Pembrokeshire, after getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol. The court heard that Lee Lock, aged 37 and from Milford Haven, was disqualified just days earlier, having accumulated 12 penalty points on his licence. Yet, instead of adhering to the ban, he drove in a manner that shocked both witnesses and the emergency services who attended the scene.
According to evidence presented at Swansea Crown Court, the early hours of 20 January 2025 saw Lock at the centre of a string of hazardous incidents. Motorists travelling in the vicinity of Oakwood Park described seeing a VW Golf veering erratically across the carriageway. One concerned driver observed the car crossing the white lines repeatedly and even striking the nearside kerb. Such was the erratic behaviour that, when the traffic lights turned green, Lock remained stationary until prompted to move by other drivers sounding their horns.
Bystanders at a nearby garage watched as Lock parked and then stumbled his way across the forecourt. His movements led witnesses to suspect that he was under the influence, spreading alarm among onlookers and prompting reports to the police. It became apparent that not only was Lock driving whilst banned, but his behaviour also posed a grave danger to all road users at that early hour.
The incident reached a critical point at the Sentry Cross roundabout. Evidence laid out in court described Lock’s approach from Neyland as “speeding”, before attempting to navigate the roundabout at an unsafe velocity. During this manoeuvre, the rear of the VW swung out; despite Lock’s attempts to correct it, his car exited onto the wrong side of the road. This led to a forceful, head-on collision with an oncoming van.
Emergency responders who arrived at the scene found both vehicles significantly damaged, with the airbags of the Golf deployed and Lock described as “moaning and mumbling” with slurred speech—a clear indication, observers said, of intoxication. The van driver was badly affected, having been trapped in the wreckage until freed by rescue teams. He recalled later the shocking pain and terror of the experience, stating that thoughts of his family consumed him as he waited for help.
During subsequent police interviews, Lock initially denied the erratic driving observed by other road users. Instead, he sought to blame the accident on adverse weather conditions and the presence of a “space-saver” spare tyre—telling officers he had “aquaplaned” in the “diabolical” rain. However, the court heard these excuses were unconvincing, especially given his previous driving record and the circumstances of the crash.
Further investigations also revealed that at the time, Lock was under scrutiny for another unrelated offence: the possession of a homemade blade, discovered in his camper van months before the crash. His criminal history includes nine prior convictions for 14 offences, including an incident of controlling and coercive behaviour in 2017. As such, he was already seen by authorities as a repeat offender with little regard for rules or the safety of others.
In defence, Lock’s barrister, Caitlin Brazel, suggested that her client’s troubled upbringing and longstanding mental health conditions may have influenced his reckless behaviour. The court was told that Lock had spent almost two decades on medication for anxiety and depression, and that he demonstrated remorse over the incident—acknowledging that the consequences could have been far more severe.
Passing sentence, Judge Paul Thomas KC made it clear that the crash could have resulted in grave injury, and that Lock’s actions after his recent driving ban pointed to a complete disregard for public safety. With credit for his guilty pleas, Lock received 18 months in prison: 16 months for the motoring offences and an additional two months for the weapons charge, to be served consecutively. He was also banned from driving for three years and will be required to pass an extended test before being eligible to regain his licence.
This case exposes the ongoing challenge authorities face with drivers who flout bans and endanger others—a situation made more alarming when alcohol and prior offences are factors. The judiciary’s response in this instance underlines the gravity with which such dangerous conduct is now treated across Wales.