A Pembroke Dock woman who confronted a number of people in a street stand-off with a wooden bat has been charged in court with possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

Fifty-two-year-old Julia Catherine Charles, of Dimond Street, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday to plead guilty to the charge.

Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that the incident occurred on October 26 on Dimond Street, with police receiving two calls alerting them to the matter at around 6 pm.

“There were some people fighting and one appeared to have some kind of weapon. Police attended the scene and spoke to a number of people, but nobody made any complaints.

“Officers then viewed the town’s CCTV and saw that a number of people had been involved in a stand-off.

“Arms were waving about and the person in possession of the bat, Miss Charles, appeared to strike another female on the back. She then swung the bat a number of times but didn’t make contact,” he continued.

After identifying the female in possession of the bat, officers arrested Miss Charles and she gave a no comment interview.

“Clearly the aggravating feature in this case, is that a weapon was used in an offensive manner. It’s fortunate that others did not react, as there could have been a serious public disorder in the street,” added Mr. Pritchard-Jones.

Defence solicitor Mark Layton told the court that Miss Charles reacted the way she did that day because her partner had been assaulted by a number of persons living in the locality.

“There was a sense of anger and frustration, and Miss Charles left her premises with a small wooden bat that she had kept from school, from playing rounders.

“She struck one person on the back and it was an impulsive action.

“The actions of others led to this chain of events. She regrets her actions, and they were out of character. Miss Charles has shown genuine remorse when speaking to her today,” added Mr. Layton.

Probation officer Julie Norman said that anti-social behaviour from others in the building that she lived had led to a verbal altercation between them and Miss Charles’ partner, and she ‘just lost it basically’.

Magistrates handed Miss Charles a 12 month community order with 80 hours of unpaid work.

She was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £32 victim surcharge, with magistrates also passing a destruction order for the bat.