Court hears allegation woman was touched without consent at property in Johnston

A MILFORD HAVEN man has appeared before magistrates charged with sexually assaulting a woman at a property in Pembrokeshire.

David Fletcher, 45, of Chestnut Way, Mount Estate, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

He is accused of intentionally touching a woman in a sexual manner at Silverdale Lodge, Johnston. The court heard the allegation involved the woman being given alcohol while Fletcher made flirtatious comments.

Crown Prosecutor Charlotte Thomas told magistrates the woman was sitting on Fletcher’s lap and that he kissed her, but she refused to kiss him back.

“He put his hands in her trousers and she pushed him away, but then he touched her over her clothing, on her vagina and her chest,” she said. “Once again, the woman pushed him away.”

Fletcher denied the sexual assault.

He elected to be tried in the magistrates’ court and was released on conditional bail pending a trial on February 25.

The bail conditions are that he must not contact the complainant or any prosecution witnesses directly or indirectly, must not enter Silverdale Lodge, Johnston, and must not post anything on social media that could interfere with the trial.

Victim said she now feels anxious leaving home after being struck with metal socket at block of flats

A PEMBROKE DOCK woman has been sentenced after assaulting her neighbour with a metal socket while experiencing what the court was told was a ‘psychotic episode’.

Jodie Roberts, 31, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Patricia Williams.

Crown Prosecutor Charlotte Thomas said the incident happened at a block of flats in Bush Street, Pembroke Dock, on June 13, 2025.

Roberts was seen running through the communal area brandishing a metal socket before approaching Ms Williams, who lives in the same building.

“She swung it into the complainant’s face and kicked her in the stomach,” Ms Thomas told magistrates.

“As a result, the victim sustained bruising and swelling to her left eye and face, as well as cuts and grazes.”

The court heard the assault was brought to an end when the defendant’s mother stepped between the two women.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Ms Williams said the incident had left her frightened in her own home.

“The incident has made me feel extremely anxious and nervous, particularly whenever I leave home,” she said.

“I’m scared to go to my car which is at the back as I know [Jodie Roberts] smokes out of her window. I now feel safe whenever I’m at work but start feeling scared again every time I go home.”

Roberts was represented by solicitor Jess Hill, who said her client had not been “in a normal state of reality” at the time.

“She thought she was being watched, she thought people were after her and she was under threat from the people around her, including her neighbour,” she told the court.

Ms Hill said Roberts had been working hard to stabilise her mental health and was engaging with support.

“She’s fought very hard for herself, and has sought counselling off her own bat and is engaging with her GP,” she said. “She now feels positive and hopeful for her future and wants to maintain what she’s worked so hard to achieve.”

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Roberts was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to Patricia Williams, fined £80, and told to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

A two-year restraining order was imposed, banning Roberts from contacting Patricia Williams, entering the top floor of the Bush Street flats, or making any reference to her on any electronic device or on social media.

Driver claimed he had taken Calpol before getting behind the wheel but tests showed 96mcg

A SELF-EMPLOYED carpenter stopped by police in Tenby after claiming he had taken Calpol was found to be almost three times over the drink-drive limit, magistrates heard.

Mark Skyrme, 46, of Fern Cottages, Penally, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

Crown Prosecutor Charlotte Thomas said Skyrme was stopped on the evening of Saturday, December 21 after officers saw him driving a Toyota Hilux along Lower Park Road, Tenby.

“He smelt strongly of alcohol and his eyes appeared glazed,” she told the court.

“When spoken to by the officers, the defendant said he’d taken some Calpol, which he claimed had an alcohol content of 7%.”

Breath tests later showed Skyrme had 96 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

The prosecutor said there was a passenger in the vehicle at the time, which was treated as an aggravating feature.

Skyrme pleaded guilty to drink driving. His solicitor, Liam Francis, said his client had been at home with his partner and had made “the foolish decision” to drive her home.

“He was fortunate that there was no accident,” Mr Francis told magistrates.

Magistrates disqualified Skyrme from driving for 26 months. He was also sentenced to a 12-month community order, during which he must complete 10 hours of unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.