A Milford woman who racially abused a police officer whilst being arrested, shouting ‘Trump was right!’, before threatening to set their children on fire, has been given a 12 month community order.

Twenty-five-year-old Cherish Watts, of Hamilton Terrace, appeared at Haverfordwest magistrates court for sentencing on Tuesday, after an initial court hearing in Llanelli the previous day.

Ms Watts pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment of a police officer; assaulting a police constable in the execution of his duty; and criminal damage, during an incident in Milford Haven in the early hours of Saturday.

Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told magistrates that police were called to an incident of ‘anti-social behaviour’ on Charles Street at 2 am.

“Ms Watts is banned from most of the bars and pubs in the area as part of the BOBB (behave or be banned) scheme, but she was witnessed being a nuisance in general on this occasion in the street, jumping up and down on a car bonnet, before throwing a bottle at a taxi, causing the vehicle’s rear passenger window to shatter,” explained Ms Vaughan.

“When police officers arrived, she was handcuffed and put into the back of their vehicle, but struggled throughout and was trying to bite the officers.”

The court heard how Ms Watts made insulting references about the race of one of the officers and was shouting ‘Trump was right’, before threatening to set the officer’s children on fire.

Defence solicitor Mike Kelleher told the court that his client’s anger had begun as righteous indignation, as she had claimed that she had seen drugs fall out of the pocket of a bouncer she was talking to.

“She was incensed by this and wanted the police called, but ultimately went about it the wrong way to gain attention, and smashed the window of the taxi on the basis that the police would have to be called!

“Ms Watts reacted badly as she felt somewhat harshly treated when she was put into the back of the police van and she felt embarrassed, too, as her trousers came down.

“As for the remarks she made to the police officer, well she was never going to set his children on fire, she said that she would put them out for hire, which is equally not as nice, but she does not accept that she is a racist.

“Ms Watts says it was a struggle with the officer rather than an assault, but she accepts that her behaviour on this occasion was not acceptable,” added Mr. Kelleher.

Probation officer Julie Norman delivered a pre-setence report to the court, stating that Ms Watts had been out drinking with a friend that night and had taken umbrage with the claim that she had seen drugs being dropped by a bouncer.

“Clearly this was an unpleasant incident and Ms Watts is extremely remorseful, especially for the racially aggravated offences. She was intoxicated at the time and tends to binge drink on occasions,” said Ms Norman, explaining that Ms Watts had now been tagged after her hearing at Llanelli magistrates court, with a curfew to run from 7 pm to 7 am.

Magistrates gave Ms Watts a 12-month community order, with a 20-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement. They also endorsed the curfew to run for three months, from 7 pm to 7 am.

Ms Watts was fined £120 and ordered to pay compensation of £100 to the taxi firm and £100 to the officer that she had assaulted.

She was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and an £85 victim surcharge.