A Pembroke Dock teenager who falsely reported to the police that his car had been stolen has been charged in court after admitting obstructing an officer in the execution of their duty.

Nineteen-year-old Jake Dobson, of Cuckoo Wood, pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Ellie Morgan told magistrates that on April 9, Mr. Dobson contacted the police at 2.45 am to report that his Vauxhall Corsa had been stolen, and had been last seen by himself the night before at 8 pm, after he had given a friend a lift to Pembroke.

“Mr. Dobson was arrested as a result of what has transpired since. On April 8, at 9.55 pm, he was seen purchasing items from Tesco, including a bottle of vodka, and the following night he was spoken to by officers in his car on Arnold’s Hill, but they had to leave him to help locate a distressed male in the area.

“Following Mr. Dobson’s report of his vehicle being stolen, police officers returned to Arnold’s Hill and inspected his vehicle which was discovrered there, locked, with damage caused to one of its windows. There were also two bottles of vodka, one empty, in the car,” said Ms Morgan.

Mr. Dobson was arrested by police and shards of glass that matched the smashed window in his car were found embedded in the hooded top that he was wearing in custody, as well as a receipt in his wallet for the vodka purchased at Tesco.

When they had gone to arrest him, he was on the phone to the insurance company about his car.

“He gave a ‘no comment’ interview at the police station when asked questions such as why did he report his vehicle stolen when he had been seen with it. Mr. Dobson has a previous conviction for obstructing a police officer carrying out their duty,” added Ms. Morgan.

Defence solicitor Jonathan Webb told magistrates that for reasons only known to himself, Mr. Dobson had told officers that his car had been stolen.

Magistrates told the defendant that it was a ‘stupid and inexplicable’ thing to do, before fining him £80 for the offence.

He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £30 victim surcharge.