A SWANSEA Valley woman has been released from custody.

Emma Bennett, 41, of Penywern Road, Ystalyfera, has been in custody since March 16 on a charge of wounding with intent.

She pleaded not guilty to the offence but then in June, pleaded guilty to a second charge of unlawful wounding at a hearing at Swansea Crown Court.

At the court on August 1, she appeared in front of Recorder Neil Owen-Casey where the court was told that shortly after midnight on March 12, the victim was in bed at his home in Ystradgynlais when he and another in the house heard a noise outside that sounded like someone was trying to burgle the house.

The pair left the home and went outside and saw the defendant and a man and tried to pursue them but lost them. As they were returning to the home, they saw the defendant and the man again and a second pursuit took place, this time ending in a confrontation between the victim and the man.

During this, Bennett stabbed the victim with a kitchen knife, causing a puncture wound to his back.

The victim and his friend returned back to the home where an ambulance was called and a towel was used to stem the bleeding and the victim began to feel dizzy.

He required surgery to repair the wound, including internal and external stitches but would make a full recovery with just scarring at the wound site.

In a victim impact statement, he told how he had nightmares and flashbacks to the incident and was now distrusting of people when outside his home and he struggled to have contact with people, including his girlfriend.

Bennett was arrested on March 16 and interviewed the following day. She initially said that it happened in Ystalyfera and that it was a ‘deal gone wrong.’ Bennett was remanded in custody and according to defence barrister Mr McKenna, she has used her time in prison well, working on her crack cocaine addiction and reports from both the probation service and prison showed her work and her remorse. A letter written by the defendant to the judge prior to the report also showed her remorse.

Recorder Owen-Casey appreciated the defendant's 'genuine remorse' and that her work had been positive whilst in custody but highlighted her 19 convictions for 31 offences, including common assault and actual bodily harm, including assaults on police officers in 2018, stating that although some of the convictions were ‘aged’ there was ‘a clear escalation’ which was an aggravating factor.

He sentenced Bennet to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years. This allows Bennett to be released from custody after serving four months. She must carry out 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirement, be subject to a 12-month drug review and pay a victim surcharge.

A restraining order has been put in place for five years.