Assault on officer followed crash incident

A HAVERFORDWEST woman has been banned from driving after admitting drink-driving for the second time in ten years and assaulting a police officer following a collision.

Rebecca Gau, 39, was arrested on February 4 after officers were called to a road traffic collision on Dale Road, Haverfordwest.

“When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered a number of people present and, as they tried to establish what had happened, they saw Rebecca Gau attempting to leave,” Crown Prosecutor Dennis Davies told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

“As they attempted to speak with her, she kept telling them to give her space and then flung her arm out, striking one of the officers in the face.”

Gau, of Three Meadows, Haverfordwest, was arrested and taken to Haverfordwest Police Station, where she provided a breath sample showing 79 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

The court heard this was Gau’s second drink-drive conviction within ten years, following a similar offence in 2020.

Gau pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker by beating and drink-driving. She was represented by Alaw Harries.

“This offence took place during a particularly difficult time of personal crisis for her,” said Ms Harries.

“She recognises the seriousness and potential danger of drink-driving, but this happened during a very difficult period in her life following the miscarriage of her child. She was unable to regulate her emotions and, in that fragile state, made the regrettable decision to drink and drive.

“She fully accepts responsibility and is extremely remorseful.”

Ms Harries added that Gau suffers from partial deafness and was struggling to hear and understand what officers were asking her to do at the time, which increased her frustration.

Magistrates disqualified Gau from driving for 40 months. She was also fined £240 and ordered to pay a £96 court surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.

Domestic incident in Fishguard involved assault and smashed crockery

A FISHGUARD man has been handed a suspended prison sentence after admitting assaulting a woman and damaging property during a drink-fuelled incident.

Peter Bromley, aged 50, of Parc y Chwarel, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Feb 26) for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to assault by beating and criminal damage.

The court heard the offences took place in Fishguard on January 13, when Bromley assaulted a woman and damaged crockery belonging to her. The value of the damage was not specified but was under £5,000.

Magistrates were told the offences were aggravated by the fact Bromley was already subject to a community order at the time and had been drinking.

The bench said the offences were serious enough to cross the custody threshold, particularly as they involved domestic violence against the same injured party.

Bromley was sentenced to eight weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. The custodial term had been reduced from 12 weeks to reflect his guilty pleas.

He must complete a 26-day programme requirement and up to 20 days of rehabilitation activity with probation as part of the suspended sentence order.

The court also imposed a restraining order lasting until February 25, 2027. The order prohibits Bromley from contacting the woman directly or indirectly, entering any premises where she lives, or posting or causing any reference to her to be made online.

No compensation order was made because the injured party was not supportive of such action.

Bromley was ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs.

Magistrates said the prison sentence had been suspended due to a realistic prospect of rehabilitation, but warned that any further offences or breach of the order could result in immediate custody.

Defendant due to be sentenced next week after guilty plea

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has admitted sending a threatening message in which he said he would hack a woman’s head off with a sword.

Charles Bianchy, aged 37, of Pembroke Street, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Feb 26) for a hearing ahead of sentencing.

The court heard that the offence took place on September 16, 2025, in Pembroke Dock, when Bianchy sent a message conveying a threat of serious harm towards a female. Prosecutors said the message referred to hacking her head off with a sword, intending — or being reckless as to whether — someone reading it would fear the threat would be carried out.

The charge is contrary to Section 181 of the Online Safety Act 2023, which covers communications that convey threats of death or serious harm.

Bianchy had previously indicated a guilty plea on January 13 this year.

Magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the Probation Service. He was remanded on conditional bail.

As part of his bail conditions, Bianchy must not contact witnesses directly or indirectly, must not attend an address in Cuckoo Wood, Pembroke Dock, and must not enter or permit any data relating to the complainant to be placed on any electronic network.

He has also been ordered to cooperate with probation officers ahead of sentencing.

The case will return to Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court for sentence on Monday (Mar 3) at 10:00am.