A woman protesting outside a hotel earmarked as accommodation for asylum seekers assaulted a policeman and threatened him with violence, a court revealed. Kerrie Watson was among about 150 demonstrators outside the Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli, with just six police officers present. Swansea Crown Court heard that the officer who was assaulted chose not to arrest Watson immediately due to the situation’s nature and the small number of police officers compared to the protesters.
Watson, accused of obstructing the highway and assaulting a policeman, initially pleaded not guilty and opted for a jury trial. However, after reflecting on her actions amidst wider civil unrest, she changed her plea. The incident occurred on October 3 outside the hotel, which the Home Office had considered for asylum seeker housing, a plan later abandoned. Protesters impeded security vans from entering, leading to a confrontation with the police.
The court heard that Watson obstructed a security vehicle and reacted aggressively when approached by an officer. She resisted being moved, pushed the officer, and made threats towards him. The officer decided not to arrest her immediately due to the outnumbering of police by protesters. Watson was later arrested and admitted guilt for obstructing the highway and assaulting an emergency worker at her sentencing hearing.
In light of her reflection on recent events and acceptance of wrongdoing, Watson received a 12-month community order, a rehabilitation course, 100 hours of unpaid work, and a £600 contribution towards prosecution costs. Her lawyer emphasized that her actions were not driven by racism but by concerns about the town’s welfare. The judge acknowledged Watson’s introspection but questioned the depth of her remorse based on a pre-sentence report.