A woman accused of assault and possessing 'a variety of weapons, including a blow torch', failed to be sentenced on Friday after she refused to leave her prison cell.

Tina Dawn Thomas, aged 23, was due to appear before Mr. Recorder Peter Rouch at Swansea Crown Court to hear her fate.

But Cadi Dewi, prosecuting, said she had exercised her right to remain at Eastwood Park women's prison near Bristol.

Thomas's barrister, Corrina Hughes, said she had yet to meet Thomas for the first time and it would be difficult for her to mitigate on Thomas's behalf without speaking with her.

And she had been unable to warn Thomas, of Garfield Gardens, Narberth, that the consequences of her decision could be that the sentencing hearing went ahead without her.

Mr. Recorder Rouch said he agreed, and added that he had never before read a probation officer's pre-sentence report in which the recommendation was to 'give her the longest jail term possible.'

Mr. Recorder Rouch agreed to postpone sentencing to allow a psychiatrist to prepare a report, 'but if she refused to see the psychiatrist, then so be it.'

Thomas has been convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm.

She will remain in custody until a final sentencing hearing is fixed.