A woman threatened a security guard with a hammer and spat at police officers on two occasions. She also assaulted a man who offered her a home and threatened to burn his house down.
Cerys Chamberlain, 30, was involved in a number of incidents prior to her appearance at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday. The first took place at a hostel in Crosskeys, Caerphilly, on October 7 last year when she accused other residents of bullying her. Security guard Jackson Holland called the police after the defendant took a hammer from her handbag, raised it above her head, and waved it.
On December 6 last year police were called to an address in Aberdare after Chamberlain had taken an overdose. Paramedics were at the scene when the defendant awoke in a confused state and became aggressive and verbally abusive. When a PC Young stepped in between Chamberlain and a paramedic she was spat at on her clothes.
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The final incidents took place on December 28 and early hours of December 29 when Christopher Watkins was assaulted by Chamberlain at his home in Tredegar. He said the defendant had previously stayed at the house he shared with his partner Caroline Thomas but on the day in question Chamberlain had drunk a bottle of whiskey and became aggressive and hit Mr Watkins on the left ear. She then left saying she was "going to burn the house down".
She returned but Mr Watkins and Ms Thomas tried to push her out of the house. She proceeded to rip the handle off of the front door and kicked in a panel. Chamberlain was arrested and taken to a police station where she again became aggressive and spat at custody detention officer Godwin, which landed on his arm.
Chamberlain, of no fixed abode, later pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, assault by beating, using threatening/abusive/insulting words or behaviour, threatening to damage property, and criminal damage. The court heard she had previous convictions for assaulting emergency workers, battery, common assault, and drunk and disorderly behaviour. At the time of the recent offences the defendant was in breach of a six-month suspended prison sentence.
In a victim personal statement Mr Watkins said: "The incident left me feeling worried and unsafe in my own home. We have done so much for her – we took her into our home and tried to support her but she caused our lives to be stressful."
In mitigation barrister Stephen Thomas said the root of his client's behaviour was her consumption of alcohol. He added: "She admits her addiction to alcohol has been the bane to her living a law-abiding lifestyle. She is now voluntarily attempting to do something about this."
Sentencing, Recorder Paul Hobson said: "Unfortunately there's a common thread through your aggressive and selfish behaviour when you're drunk . You display aggression to anyone unfortunate enough to try and assist you." Chamberlain was sentenced to 32 weeks imprisonment and was made subject to a restraining order for five years.
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