A chief petty officer in the Royal Navy almost missed his boat after telling a judge he would not be around for the next few months.

Mathew Fuge, of 178 Waterloo Road, Penygroes, is accused of possessing a quantity of cocaine in the toilet of an Ammanford pub.

Fuge’s case was fast tracked to Swansea crown court on Friday because he was due to set sail for the Gulf on Monday at the start of a tour of duty that would keep him away from the UK until November.

Judge Paul Thomas said, “I’m afraid he will not be.”

His barrister, Frank Phillips, said it might be possible for Fuge to “attend” a plea and case management hearing via video link to his ship.

After enquiries were made Mr Phillips said the Royal Navy was willing to fly Fuge back home for the hearing.

However, that would depend on where the ship was and the Navy would not tell him where it was going, apart from the Gulf region.

Judge Thomas said the next hearing would take place two weeks either side of May 25, depending on when Fuge would be close enough to land to catch a plane.

Mr Phillips said Fuge would enter a plea of not guilty.