A YOUNG woman attacked a retired lady in her room at a Powys pub after discovering her partner had got into bed with the victim.

Sammy-Jo Ann Harris, 27, used the door to the other woman’s room to bang against her head “multiple times”, with her injuries requiring hospital treatment.

The victim suffered significant bruising to her face and head, as well as trauma to her eye which required surgery.

The incident unfolded at the Mid Wales Inn, in Pantydwr, near Rhayader, on July 3, 2021.

Harris, of Cwmdifwg, St Harmon, admitted assaulting a person, thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm, when she appeared at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, February 14.

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Suzanne Cartwright, prosecuting, said she did not think the case was suitable for summary disposal. “The victim was a retired lady, with the incident taking place at the pub where she was staying,” she told the court.

“The victim had been in the pub, then gone to bed by herself. The defendant’s partner at the time entered the victim’s room and got into bed with her.

“The defendant heard this and also entered. The victim was asleep, virtually naked.

“The defendant used the door to bang against the victim’s head multiple times, causing injury. She suffered significant bruising to her face and head.

“There was also trauma to her right eye, which required hospital treatment.”

Ms Cartwright said the victim was taken to Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth. “She didn’t remember what happened,” said Ms Cartwright.

“She says she woke up to find police in her hotel room.

“She underwent an operation on her eye. She has since suffered regression with PTSD.”

She said the offence was elevated due to the victim being vulnerable and the door being used as a weapon.

The court heard that Harris had two previous convictions, for assault and drink driving. Oddly, those two convictions relate to incidents that happened on the same night as this offence – occurring more than two-and-a-half years ago.

Acting for Harris, Huw Williams invited the court to accept jurisdiction of the case.

“I would urge you to order a full pre-sentence report, with all options open, including committal for sentence,” said Mr Williams.

“This is not a case where you can pin the tail on the donkey. There are a number of factors: it was spontaneous, there is use of a weapon and harm caused.

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“The consultant (who treated the victim) couldn’t be sure the (eye) injury he treated her for corresponded to the incident.

“She has already appeared before your colleagues for the other offences that happened that evening in March 2022. It has taken until now for police to charge her for this offence, which was by far the more serious offence.

“Life has moved on for her from this traumatic night. She has a young baby now.

“You should treat her as someone of previous clean character because the offences on her record happened the very same night.”

Magistrates deliberated before saying they would accept jurisdiction of the case. They adjourned sentence for a full pre-sentence report, with all options open, to be prepared.

Harris will return to court to be sentenced on March 13.