Court hears Haverfordwest defendant was in severe mental distress and carrying razors to harm herself

A HAVERFORDWEST woman who contacted emergency services while in severe mental distress has been sentenced after admitting possessing a bladed article in a public place.

Danni Sandow, 22, of Three Meadows, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week following an incident on March 28.

Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told the court that police were contacted by Withybush Hospital after Sandow told the Crisis team she was intending to go to the railway line.

“Extensive searches were carried out, but police then received a call from the woman saying she was on the road bridge at Clay Lane in Haverfordwest, and was carrying razor blades,” she said.

“The woman is known to carry multiple blades in her purse. Multiple attempts were made by the officers to convince the woman to return to the hospital but she failed to agree and was subsequently arrested.”

Sandow pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article in a public place.

Her solicitor, Tom Lloyd, told magistrates that the blades were being carried solely for the purpose of self-harm and not to threaten anyone else.

“This is a woman who had those blades on her with the sole purpose of causing harm to herself,” he said.

“She called the police because she needed their support and when she refused to return to the hospital, she was arrested.

“On previous occasions, the officers didn’t pursue the matter, but on March 28 the defendant was particularly unwell.

“This is a troubled young woman who found herself in a very bad psychological frame of mind. She contacted the police so that they could assist her and wasn’t inflicting harm on anyone else.”

Mr Lloyd added that Sandow has recently received a significant mental health diagnosis and is now receiving medical and psychological support.

Magistrates sentenced her to a 24-month community order to allow her treatment to continue. She was also ordered to pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 in costs.

Magistrates hear Pembroke Dock man threatened worker and was later banned from the store

A MAN has been banned from Tesco in Pembroke Dock after hurling abuse at a female security guard and shoving her in the chest, magistrates have heard.

Alexander Clark, 49, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week, where CCTV footage of the incident on February 5 was shown.

Prosecutor Linda Baker said Clark strode up to the security guard, poked her in the chest and nudged her with his left shoulder.

“He also began shouting at her, calling her a stupid c***,” she told the court.

“He said, ‘Your dad’s a rapist and you know what we do to them? We kill them.’”

In mitigation, Clark’s solicitor, Alaw Harries, said the defendant did not know the security guard and described the assault as being at the lower end of the scale.

“The CCTV footage demonstrates this was a very low-level assault and no injuries were caused to the complainant,” she said.

“It was a poke and a shove and the force used was very limited.

“But the defendant is extremely sorry for his behaviour that day.”

The court heard that Clark, who is of no fixed abode, has since been banned from the Tesco store as a result of the incident.

Clark pleaded guilty to assaulting the security guard by beating and to using threatening and abusive words and behaviour.

He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £50 compensation to the security guard, £85 in court costs and a £48 surcharge.

Sentencing him, the presiding magistrate said: “What you said to that lady was completely inappropriate, particularly when she was at work doing her job.

“Don’t do it again.”

Solicitor tells court Pembroke Dock driver was under severe stress over wife living and working in Qatar

A PEMBROKE DOCK man who was more than twice the legal drink-drive limit blamed his actions on mounting fears over the situation in the Middle East, a court has heard.

Mykhaylo Omelchuk, 41, was stopped by police shortly before 11:00pm on March 29 after a member of the public reported concerns about his manner of driving.

Officers found him driving a Vauxhall Astra near his home in Front Street, Pembroke Dock. After he gave a positive roadside breath test, he was taken to the police station where a further test showed he had 83 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard this week that Omelchuk’s solicitor, Michael Kelleher, said the defendant had been under significant strain because his wife is currently living and working in Qatar.

“It’s hardly surprising that, given what’s happening in the Middle East, Mr Omelchuk is extremely stressed,” he told the court.

“On this occasion, he allowed the stress to get to him and this led to him drinking and driving.”

The court was told that Omelchuk has one previous drink-driving conviction, imposed in October 2023.

Mr Kelleher said his client “deeply regrets” his actions and submitted a number of references for the magistrates to consider before passing sentence.

“The references show a very different person to the person who is appearing in court today,” he said.

After the mitigation was completed, Omelchuk asked if he could address the magistrates personally from the dock.

“I deeply regret my actions and I’m taking steps to ensure that this will never happen again,” he said.

Omelchuk pleaded guilty to the charge of drink-driving.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for 20 months. He was also fined £480 and ordered to pay a £192 court surcharge and £85 in costs.