*** PLEASE NOTE - THIS REPORTED CASE WAS NOT HANDLED BY NICK FREEMAN OR ANYONE AT NICK FREEMAN SOLICITORS. IT IS BEING REPORTED PURELY AS A POINT OF INTEREST ***
Former Wales rugby international Jonathan Thomas has been disqualified from driving for 18 months after admitting drink driving on Christmas Day.
Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that Thomas, 43, was stopped by police while driving his Mercedes CLA 220 through Pembroke town centre on 25 December 2025. Breathalyser tests showed he had 62 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, almost twice the legal limit of 35.
Thomas, a former Ospreys captain, pleaded guilty to the offence and had no previous convictions. Magistrates imposed an 18-month driving ban, which could be reduced if he completes a drink-drive rehabilitation course.
He was also fined £120, ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £48 victim surcharge.
The court was told the offence occurred shortly after Thomas had stepped down from his role as head coach of Swansea RFC, a decision linked to ongoing health concerns. He was forced to retire from playing in 2015 on medical advice after being diagnosed with epilepsy and is among hundreds of former players involved in a concussion-related legal action against rugby’s governing bodies.
Thomas began his senior career with Swansea before joining the Ospreys, where he won four league titles and an Anglo-Welsh Cup. He later captained Worcester Warriors and earned 67 caps for Wales, featuring in the 2007 World Cup and Grand Slam-winning Six Nations sides in 2005 and 2008.
After retiring from playing, he went on to hold coaching roles at Bristol, Worcester and within Warren Gatland’s Wales set-up.
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About Freeman & Co.
Freeman & Co. are a specialist firm of road traffic and criminal defence solicitors based in Manchester but with nationwide coverage.
Freeman & Co. specialise in a wide variety of road traffic cases, ranging from drink driving, speeding and mobile phone offences, to name but a few.
The firm was created by Nick Freeman, who has been dubbed “Mr Loophole” by the press for his technical legal ability and robustly challenging the prosecution.
Nick is well regarded as an expert road traffic lawyer and has successfully represented many high profile clients for a variety of motoring offences as well as criminal offences.
The firm of Freeman & Co. embodies the way Nick works, with minute attention to detail and challenging the prosecution at every turn.
If you are facing a road traffic matter or criminal offence and need the services of Freeman & Co. please call on 0161 236 7007.
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Freeman & Co Solicitors
8 Oxford Court
Manchester
M2 3WQ
Tel. 0161 236 7007
