A WOMAN has been banned from keeping animals for seven years and handed a suspended prison sentence after pouring boiling water and bleach on a group of wild mice trapped in a wheelie bin.

Carys Ann Roberts, aged 28, of Cross Hands Road, Llanelli, pleaded guilty to an offence under the Animal Welfare Act.

Llanelli Magistrates’ Court heard that on 20 August 2024, at Maesawel, Black Lion Road, Cross Hands, Roberts caused unnecessary suffering to several small rodents — believed to be seven wild mice — by pouring bleach and boiling water over them, leading to burns and death.

Roberts had sent messages to a WhatsApp group of work colleagues, informing them of her intentions. Despite their pleas for her not to proceed, she carried out the act. The court heard she poured around half a bottle of bleach into the bin before adding boiling water from a kettle. After about five minutes, she placed the dead mice into a bin bag and left it out for collection the following day.

The matter was reported to police, who referred it to the RSPCA.

During sentencing on 17 April, the court was told that Roberts had apologised and claimed it was an error of judgement.

She was sentenced to 18 weeks’ custody, suspended for 18 months, ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, and must pay £400 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge. Roberts was also banned from keeping animals for seven years.

In sentencing remarks, the District Judge said: “This was a serious offence. Animals feel pain just as we do and are protected by law.”

An independent expert veterinary report presented to the court stated that the boiling water would have caused “severe burns” and “serious pain.” It added: “If the burns are extensive and involve most of the skin surface, they are liable to be fatal. Equally, depending on the quantity of water poured into the bin, the rodents may potentially have drowned, causing further pain, distress, and suffering.”

The report also confirmed that bleach would have caused “chemical burns.”

The court heard that Roberts had access to humane alternatives, including the offer of help from a pest control company or the option to release the mice away from the property.

Speaking after the case, RSPCA Inspector Keith Hogben said: “All animals — big and small — deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. These mice suffered greatly and died as a result of intentional actions. She had been offered an alternative and advised against what she did, but sadly the mice suffered unnecessarily.”

For those concerned about mice or other rodents, the RSPCA advises simple and humane deterrent methods.

Rebecca Machin, RSPCA Scientific and Policy Officer, said: “There are several kinds of mouse in the UK, and they are an important part of our wildlife. To deter mice around the home, the key is to remove sources of food that attract them. Food should be stored in airtight containers, and crumbs should be cleaned up.

“Cotton wool balls soaked in peppermint, eucalyptus, or spearmint oil may help deter rodents, and holes should be blocked with ‘mouse mesh’, a type of wire wool rodents cannot nibble through. In gardens, planting daffodils, wood hyacinth and alliums can also help, as rodents dislike them. Keeping gardens tidy and moving furniture can also deter them, as rodents dislike sudden changes.

“If deterrents do not work, a professional pest controller can remove rodents humanely. However, long-term success depends on removing whatever attracted them in the first place.”

A MILFORD man has appeared before magistrates charged with spitting into the face of a woman during an alleged altercation in the town centre.

Cornelius Harteveldt, 31, is accused of spitting into the woman’s face on October 15, 2024. This week he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault by beating.

His solicitor, Tom Lloyd, told the court that the defendant “factually denies the allegation.”

A trial date has been set for June 23 at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.

Harteveldt, of Richard John Road, Milford Haven, was released on conditional bail. His bail conditions are that he must live and sleep at his home address, must not contact the alleged victim directly or indirectly, must not enter Steynton, and must not post any data relating to the victim on social media.

A MONKTON motorist has been provisionally banned from driving after being caught behind the wheel with Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol and benzoylecgonine in his system.

Former stone mason Aaron Simpson was stopped by officers as he made his way to work across the Cleddau Bridge on the morning of November 7, 2024.

“Police were on duty in full uniform and carried out a stop check as a result of the manner of his driving,” said Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker.

A roadside drugs wipe tested positive, and further blood tests at the police station showed Simpson had 5.2 mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol and 796 mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limits are 2 mcg and 50 mcg respectively.

This week, Simpson, 33, of Tenby Court, Monkton, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to two charges of drug-driving.

Magistrates adjourned sentencing until May 13 to allow for probation reports and imposed an interim driving disqualification. Simpson was released on unconditional bail.