CCTV showed victim pulled to the floor by her hair at two separate venues

A PEMBROKE woman has been ordered to pay compensation after assaulting another woman in two pubs on the same evening.

Haverfordwest magistrates were shown CCTV footage of Carina Haines being pulled to the floor by her hair and struck repeatedly by Sheryl McNamara.

The first assault took place in the women’s toilets at the Old Cross Saws Inn, Pembroke, on December 28, 2025.

Footage showed McNamara, 48, leaving a toilet cubicle and becoming involved in a heated argument with Ms Haines.

“In both instances, the victim accepts she had been drinking a large quantity of alcohol since lunchtime, with the result that her recollection of events is very limited,” Crown Prosecutor Nia James told the court.

Both women were seen pointing at each other, although neither could remember what had caused the argument.

Ms Haines then briefly touched McNamara on the arm, after which McNamara grabbed her by the hair, pulled her to the floor and struck her repeatedly.

“During the incident, the defendant’s black handbag came over her neck and moved towards the victim,” Ms James said.

“As McNamara was escorted out, she did not have her handbag, but the victim’s partner was seen holding it.”

Later that evening, Ms Haines was sitting with friends at the Castle Inn, Pembroke, when McNamara entered the pub and immediately approached her.

CCTV showed McNamara grabbing Ms Haines by the back of her hair and pulling her from her chair to the floor.

Ms Haines later attended the accident and emergency department at Withybush Hospital, where bruising was found on her back. Medical staff also identified a possible rib fracture.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Ms Haines said the assaults had affected her studies and left her fearful of encountering McNamara.

“This came at a time when I was completing university work, and I found it very hard to concentrate,” she said.

“I began isolating myself through fear of seeing Sheryl McNamara. I stopped going to the local pub and I didn’t take my dog for a walk in the evenings in case I saw her.

“I even saw her drive past my house a few times, and I felt she was doing this on purpose.”

McNamara, of Elm Grove, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to two charges of assault by beating.

Defending, solicitor Tom Lloyd said the circumstances leading to the first assault should be taken into account.

“Were it not for the behaviour of the complainant, Sheryl McNamara would not be in court today,” he said.

“This is a woman who has never been before the courts, who has raised a family and who is an outstanding member of the community.

“While she accepts responsibility and is profoundly embarrassed to be here, the complainant was waiting outside the cubicle for a significant period before beginning to remonstrate with her.

“She touched the defendant briefly on two occasions, and then pushed her twice.

“The defendant was taunted, touched and pushed before the criminal element came into play. Naturally, there is then the question of self-defence, because up until that point she was minding her own business.”

Magistrates fined McNamara £693 and ordered her to pay £500 compensation to Ms Haines.

She must also pay a £277 victim surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.

Jacob Payne failed to attend an initial assessment after testing positive for a Class A drug

A 28-YEAR-OLD Haverfordwest man has been fined after failing to attend an initial drugs assessment.

Jacob Payne was arrested on April 2 after testing positive for a Class A drug and was required to attend an assessment at a police station.

His failure to attend resulted in the case being brought before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

Payne, of Back Lane, Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to failing to attend the assessment.

He was fined £80 and ordered to pay £385 court costs and a £32 surcharge.

Police found Gareth Cotton almost twice the legal alcohol limit and carrying cannabis

A FISHGUARD farm worker has been banned from driving after being caught behind the wheel in Haverfordwest while almost twice the legal alcohol limit.

Gareth Cotton, 33, of Plas y Fron, Fishguard, was stopped by police at around midnight on July 6 as he drove his van along Pope Hill.

“The officers could smell intoxicants and the defendant was slurring his words and was unsteady on his feet,” Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

Cotton later admitted that he had consumed several alcoholic drinks earlier that evening.

A breathalyser test showed that he had 61 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.

During a search, officers also found 1.2 grams of cannabis in his possession, with an estimated street value of £12.

Cotton, who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving without third-party insurance and possessing cannabis, a Class B controlled drug.

Defence solicitor Jess Hill told magistrates that Cotton had been driving to buy food when he was stopped.

“He now realises this was a big mistake,” she said.

Magistrates disqualified Cotton from driving for 17 months and fined him £276.

He was also ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £140 court surcharge.