News

Woman with mental health issues jailed after spraying fire extinguisher at police

Published

6 years ago

August 21, 2020

A WOMAN suffering from mental health issues, who set off a foam fire extinguisher, and sprayed it on a police officer has been jailed for 16 weeks.

42-year-old Mignonette Goodchild, who is of no fixed abode, but gave the court her father’s address of Hamilton Court, Pembroke Dock, had entered an unsecured property at Strumble Head and was squatting as a means of self-isolating during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prior to this, she had been living in her car in a field rented from a businessman at Cross Inn, Ceredigion.

Goodchild receives no benefits or help from the government despite her issues, and receives only ad hoc financial help from her father, a pensioner.

Fearing for her safety, after a previous promise of accommodation fell through due to Covid-19, she took what she describes to this newspaper as the “reluctant decision” to enter the
otherwise unoccupied holiday let property through an insecure window.

Speaking on the telephone to her father from prison she said: “I am now in jail because I thought that Covid-19 would kill me”.

After staying at the property for one night, a caretaker spotted a car in the car park, and raised the alarm that there was a squatter at the property.

The police were called, and when officers attended the property on April 3, Goodchild had covered the inside of the front door with a layer of foam from a fire extinguisher. She then started screaming to the police: “You’re not coming through, you may have the disease!”

As the police opened the door to gain access, Goodchild continued spraying foam, some of which covered the police officers.

Police then gained entry to the property, which is owned by The National Trust, and arrested Goodchild by tackling her to the floor. During the arrest, the defendant received two black eyes and a cut across her nose.

At Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Aug 18) Goodchild was handed a custodial sentence. She has already spent some time on remand at Eastwood Park Prison, South Gloucestershire due to missing her original court date through failure to receive the summons.

Set off fire extinguisher: Goodchild the day after the arrest (Pic: Herald)

Crime

Neighbourhood policing boosted across Dyfed-Powys

Published

55 minutes ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE has announced a significant expansion of its Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Teams (NPPT), with more officers being deployed to frontline roles where demand is greatest.

From Monday (Mar 16), teams across the force area have been strengthened, with a renewed focus on tackling antisocial behaviour and preventing crime at its source.

The force says the move is aimed at reducing repeat demand by addressing the root causes of offending, rather than simply responding to incidents.

To achieve this, a number of officers have been redeployed from central departments back into frontline policing, while new posts are also being created to bolster capacity.

Temporary Chief Superintendent Steve Davies, head of uniform policing, said: “These changes are about increasing frontline visibility and ensuring we have the right resources in the right places.

“They form part of a wider programme of improvements across the force to enhance effectiveness and efficiency, while also supporting the wellbeing of our officers and staff.

“This is positive news for our communities, who will benefit from stronger neighbourhood teams focused on local priorities and proactive policing.”

The expansion has been made possible through Home Office funding under the Neighbourhood Guarantee scheme, which is designed to strengthen community safety and crime prevention.

Dyfed-Powys Police has been allocated £1.4 million for 2025/26, enabling the recruitment of police staff and freeing up officers previously in support roles to return to operational duties.

As a result, four sergeants and 29 police officers have now been reassigned to neighbourhood teams across the force.

Each NPPT area will also have a named officer, with full team details available via the ‘Your Area’ section of the Dyfed-Powys Police website.

The force has also secured early access to 2026/27 Neighbourhood Guarantee funding, which will see a further 12 officers recruited between April and the autumn—adding to overall officer numbers in the region.

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: “Neighbourhood policing is about more than numbers—it’s about relationships.

“Greater visibility helps build trust, strengthens community ties, and reassures the public that policing is present, responsive, and committed to keeping people safe.

“I remain committed to improving police visibility across our communities, and these additional officers will help turn that ambition into reality.”

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

60 minutes ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.