A Pembroke woman who told prison officers that she hoped that they would die of cancer and that their children would be victims of a fire has been handed a lengthy jail sentence.

Twenty-year-old Elisha Hazel Callen of St Martins Road, Moknton, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday to admit a series of allegations.

She pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in a public place on November 1; and also to the common assault of a detention escort officer on June 16; and possessing 0.5 grammes of cannabis.

Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that the most recent charge against Miss Callen, who was already subject to a suspended prison sentence, came on November 1 when officers arrested her drunk on Haverfordwest’s Quay Street.

“It was shortly after 11 pm and police were called to the scene as the defendant was hitting cars on the street with her hands and banging them, before she started banging her head against a window.

“She was clearly intoxicated and was acting this way it appears as she had been denied entry to a local nightclub.

“When officers spoke to her she became abusive towards them and started shouting and swearing and was arrested,” he continued.

The court heard that back on June 16 Miss Callen was also arrested during the early hours of the morning and when searched in custody, she was found to be in possession of the cannabis and a grinder.

“In custody her demeanour became very agitated and abusive, and she began to say things towards police staff such as she hoped they would die of cancer, and that their children would die in a fire or be raped by a paedophile,” remarked Mr. Pritchard-Jones.

“When staff looked into her cell, they could see Miss Callen head-butting the side of the bed, trying to cause herself harm.

“When detention officers went in, she spat at one of them, so it was quite unpleasant to have this defendant’s spit all over their trousers and shoes,” he added.

Defence solicitor Katy Hanson told the court that Miss Callen knew that she was in a very serious position being before the court again, despite the June charges predating her last conviction.

“Miss Callen has previously been to prison and when she came out things were going well, but she lost her employment as a cleaner, and started falling back into her wold ways again.

“She has mental health problems and has been to her doctor and a psychiatrist for help.

“On the drunk and disorderly charge, Miss Callen had been out with friends and as she had been denied entry to the club, she had no way of contacting them or getting home.

“Since being handed the recent suspended sentence, she had buried her head in the sand and not been attending probation appointments,” she added.

Probation officer Julie Norman told the court that Miss Callen’s compliance had not been satisfactory and that she had chosen not to engage with the help that was being offered to her.

Magistrates activated the suspended sentence and also handed Miss Callen a jail sentence of a further four months for the common assault charge, meaning she will serve a total of eight months in prison.

She was fined £80 for the drugs possession charge, and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the victim, and a £115 victim surcharge.