A woman who injected heroin into her lovers arm resulting in his death was jailed last week.

Rosemary Holden, aged 37, admitted unlawfully killing Alan Wickland after he asked her to help him administer the drug.

Swansea Crown Court heard how 36-year-old Mr Wickland was unable to operate the syringe effectively because a broken arm meant he could not push down the barrel.

Prosecutor Stephen Rees told the court how the couple, who had only been in a relationship for two weeks, and another woman, prepared two wraps of heroin to inject in a flat in Haverfordwest.

Holden drew her heroin into a syringe and put the rest into another syringe. She and Mr Wickland were sharing a wrap and Mr Wickland chose the syringe he wanted, he said.

The Judge heard how Holden told police that Mr Wickland, a former stable-hand, asked her to help him. Alan had a broken arm and had trouble. He got the vein but couldnt get the barrel in so I pushed the barrel in, she had said.

Moments after receiving the drug Mr Wickland fell off the sofa and lapsed into unconsciousness. Holden tried to give the married father-of-five first aid before calling police and paramedics.

Mr Wickland, whose estranged wife Belinda lives in Cornwall with their children aged between two and 13, was rushed to Withybush Hospital but died six days later.

Hospital reports showed that Mr Wickland had a high level of alcohol in his body which, combined with the heroin, proved fatal.

Holdens lawyer, Kevin Riordan, told the court that Mr Wickland had injected himself with the syringe.

He found his own vein but because his arm was in plaster, he was unable to push the barrel down and so asked for assistance.

That was the way that she became involved - the request was made to her and she assisted.

It was not initiated by her, she did not supply the drug and only assisted on request, he said.

Holden, from Pembroke Road, Haverfordwest, admitted manslaughter and possession of heroin and was sentenced to three years in prison. The court cleared her of supplying the class A drug.