A POWYS teenager has been sent to a juvenile detention centre for six months after committing a string of offences – including assaulting a woman.

Jamie Pembridge, 19, had denied the domestic assault three days after Christmas in Cardiff last year, but failed to show up for his trial this week.

Pembridge was found guilty in his absence on Monday, June 6, with a warrant issued for his arrest. At Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates' Court on Wednesday Pembridge, who was this time present, was sent to a young offender institution for a total of 24 weeks.

The court heard that the assault was a domestic violence case and was aggravated by the fact Pembridge, of Penybryn, Crossgates, was subject to a community order at the time, having been convicted at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court of possessing a bladed article in a public place – an offence that occurred in October 2020.

For the assault, the bench imposed an eight-week custodial sentence on Pembridge. They said: “The offence was aggravated by being committed while (you were) subject to a community sentence, because of the nature of offence, committed on a community order which has already been breached twice, and further aggravated by failing to attend your trial.”

No compensation was ordered because a custodial sentence was imposed.

The community order for the bladed article offence had been made on November 18, 2020. That order was revoked, with Pembridge instead ordered to serve a further 12 weeks detention consecutively.

On October 19, 2020, Pembridge was found in North Avenue, Llandrindod, in possession of a folding pocket knife which had a cutting edge that exceeded three inches.

Finally, Pembridge will serve a further four weeks custody for failing to surrender to court bail. He failed to attend his trial at Cardiff Magistrates' Court on June 6, having been released on bail in criminal proceedings when denying the assault charge on April 12.

Upon his release, Pembridge will also have to pay a £128 surcharge.