A Milford man who pitched a tent in the reception of Pembrokeshire County Council’s offices in protest that he and his girlfriend had been made homeless following eviction from their council flat has been jailed for three months.

Thirty-three-year old Sam Maguire, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday to face charges of causing harassment, alarm or distress by using threatening, abusive and disorderly behaviour on; and damaging a pillow to the value of £20 belonging to Dyfed Powys Police.

The court heard that he was also in breach of a conditional discharge imposed in April.

Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that the incident occurred at PCC’s County Hall offices on Friday, June 28, when Mr. Maguire and his girlfriend tried to stage a protest in the reception after being evicted from their Mount Estate home.

“They walked into reception with a pop-up tent, before Mr. Maguire started shouting that he was going to ‘smack some bitch up’.

“It was some kind of a protest as he stated that PCC were not fulfilling statutory requirements to house the couple.

“They were told by employees at the council not to put the tent up by the main entrance as it would prevent people from getting in and out.

“At this stage Mr. Maguire became even more abusive, stating to one employee ‘don’t laugh at me, or I’ll knock your head off’.

“The police were called and he was arrested. He became verbally abusive towards the police and when he was put in the police vehicle, he began banging his head against the cage.

“The criminal damage charge occurred when Mr. Maguire decided to bite a pillow case in the police cell, causing it to tear,” he continued.

Mr. Maguire’s girlfriend Shannon Saunders was dealt with by means of a fine at Llanelli Magistrates Court the day after the incident the court heard.

It is believed that the couple were evicted from their home for owing £2,000 in rent arrears to the county council.

The court heard that Mr. Maguire was already subject to a community order, after being charged with a burglary at St. Katherine’s Church last year, where around £600 in cash was stolen.

Defence solicitor Richard Morgan told the court that Mr. Maguire suffered from personality disorder and had distress and emotional issues.

“He suffers with mental health issues. He hoped that the protest would attract enough intention and would help in getting he and his partner re-homed,” he said.

Probation officer Julie Norman told the court that Mr. Maguire had a pattern of behaving ‘inappropriately’ towards professionals trying to assist him.

“He is prohibited from entering any Job Centre in Wales due to his behaviour,” she said.

On sentencing, the chairman of the magistrates bench told Mr. Maguire that it was a significant matter as the offence was committed whilst he was subject to a community order.

Mr. Maguire was given a 12 week term of imprisonment and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £115.

A spokesperson for Pembrokeshire County Council said said after the hearing: “As a local authority, we will not tolerate intimidation and threats of physical violence against staff and will always contact the police in such cases.”