A WOMAN who was almost three times over the legal drink-drive limit hurled aggressive abuse at a police officer after crashing her car into a wall in a hotel car park, a court has heard.

Caia Restall, aged 34, was seen by hotel staff driving a silver BMW in the Mariners Square car park in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

“They saw her collide with a wall and as a result alerted the police,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told District Judge Mark Layton, sitting at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

When officers arrived, Restall became aggressive, calling one officer “a racist c***” and “a lying creep.”

“She was extremely intoxicated,” the prosecutor said. “When interviewed later, she had no recollection of the incident.”

A subsequent breath test showed Restall had 104 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath — almost three times the legal limit.

Restall, of Heol Penlan, Goodwick, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

A probation report stated that she had been drinking with friends that evening but became concerned about the welfare of a family member.

“When she found this out, she panicked and made the decision to drive before correcting herself and returning back to the car park,” her solicitor Fenn Richards said. “This was when the police arrived.”

Because Restall was already subject to a previous disqualification for a drug-driving conviction, she was disqualified from driving for a total of three years.

The court also ordered her to complete ten rehabilitation activity requirement days, 150 hours of unpaid work, and to wear a 60-day alcohol monitoring tag.

She was further ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 in costs.

Glass struck victim’s face after drink was thrown during altercation, court hears

A MOTHER-of-two has narrowly avoided an immediate prison sentence after injuring another woman’s face during an altercation at a Tenby pub.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that Courtney Howells, aged 28, was involved in the incident on Friday, September 27, 2024. Throughout her appearance in court this week, she maintained that she never intended to cause injury.

Her solicitor, Michael Kelleher, told District Judge Mark Layton that Howells had thrown a drink during the incident.

“She threw a drink, but unfortunately it caused an injury to the victim,” he said.

However, the Crown told the court that as Howells threw the drink towards the victim, the glass left her hand and struck the woman in the face, causing scarring.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the victim, who was 17 at the time of the offence, said the incident had had a lasting effect on her confidence.

“I’m paranoid whenever I go out with my friends,” she said. “I’m constantly walking on eggshells and haven’t been back to the place where it happened.

“I’ve got scars on my face that are a constant reminder, and I have this insecurity over something that could have been prevented.”

Mr Kelleher submitted a probation report and several character references on behalf of his client, again stressing that the incident was not intentional.

“It was reckless rather than intentional,” he said. “The defendant’s intention was to throw a drink, not the glass, and not to cause any injury.”

Howells, of Caerae, Martletwy, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm.

District Judge Layton sentenced her to 42 weeks in custody, suspended for two years.

She was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, undertake 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days, and wear an alcohol abstinence monitoring tag for 60 days.

Howells was also ordered to pay £1,500 compensation to the victim, a £187 court surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.

A restraining order was imposed preventing her from having any direct or indirect contact with the victim for the next five years.

Man refused breath test three times after being found revving car engine

A PEMBROKE Dock motorist has admitted causing criminal damage after biting a police blanket while in custody following his arrest on suspicion of drink-driving.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard this week that police were alerted after a member of the public reported concerns about a man sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle while revving the engine.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan said officers attended and found Sean Cook, aged 58, inside the vehicle.

“The person was concerned about the male who was sitting there with bulging eyes,” she told the court. “He was believed to be on drugs.”

Ms Vaughan said Cook told officers he was listening to the radio while sitting in the vehicle, which was parked in a public driveway.

“It was clear to the officers that he was intoxicated as he was slurring his words,” she said. “He then deliberately refused to supply a breath test on three occasions.”

Cook, of Glenview Avenue, Pembroke Dock, was arrested and taken to Haverfordwest Police Station. While in custody, he began biting a police blanket, causing the stitching to split.

He pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis and to causing criminal damage.

Sentencing was adjourned until Monday (Feb 17) to allow for the preparation of a probation report.

An interim driving disqualification was imposed, and Cook was released on unconditional bail.