A passenger train was forced to make an emergency stop when a plumber darted dangerously across the tracks at a Tenby level-crossing.

Haverfordwest magistrates were shown footage of Simon Peter Kidney’s van passing just feet in front of the 5.15pm Carmarthen to Pembroke Dock service when he appeared before them on Monday.

Kidney, of Manorbier, was due to stand trial after denying a dangerous driving charge relating to the incident at the Beavers Hill level crossing on September 2, but changed his plea to guilty at the start of the hearing.

Ellie Morgan, prosecuting, told the court the train driver stopped at the open crossing and sounded the horn before carrying on his journey at 5mph.

“Out of the corner of his eye he could see a dark navy works van. He believed an imminent collision would occur because of the van’s speed, and initiated an emergency stop.

“The van then shot across, carrying on to Manorbier.”

The van was estimated to have passed three feet from the train, and was reported as a near miss. Camera footage clearly showed Kidney’s name in large letters on the side of the van.

In a statement read to the court, train driver Martin James said: “The incident shook me up and frightened me.

“I could not believe what the driver had done. He appeared to be oblivious to his surroundings.”

Kidney, 60, told police he had used the crossing many times and believed he had plenty of time to cross. He agreed that his actions had been stupid and he was ‘very lucky’ not to have been struck by the train.

Mark Layton, defending, told the court that the self-employed plumber was previously of clean character, and his business would be impacted by the loss of his licence.

He said: “He believed there were about six metres between him and the train and that was just about enough to get through.

“He thought his actions were careless rather than dangerous.

“It was a very grave lapse of judgement.”

Mr Layton added that the only risk of injury would have been to Kidney himself, and he would have pleaded guilty earlier if he had been able to view the CCTV footage.

Kidney was sentenced to 90 hours of unpaid work, to be completed within 12 months, and ordered to pay £705 in costs and charges.

He was banned from driving for 12 months.