A lonely Templeton pensioner has been jailed after telling police her ear had been cut off during drunken nuisance calls.

Ann Gateley, 70, of Little Chapel Hill, pleaded guilty to sending messages to cause annoyance or needless anxiety when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Monday.

The court heard that she made six 999 calls between August 18 and 19, sobbing and stating that her ear had been cut off.

She stated: “They have cut my ear off, they did not do a good job and they are going to come back.”

She told police that she had been thumped and kicked.

Gately was found slumped drunkenly in a chair when officers arrived at her home, and she told them she was lonely.

Dennis Davies, prosecuting, told the bench that Gately had previous convictions for similar offences.

The court heard that she had recently served a custodial sentence for her behaviour and was still on licence.

David Williams, defending, said: “Mrs Gately is in a truly wretched position today.”

He added that she lived alone in a remote property and was ‘desperately lonely’.

She told Mr Williams that a young man and woman had assaulted her in her home when they tried to steal from her, leaving her with a cut lip and bleeding ear which needed stiches.

He said: “Mrs Gately says she was treated at Withybush hospital for her injuries.

“She tells me she has CCTV cameras, but this young couple knew where they were located and ways to avoid being captured.”

Mr Williams added that he had not been able to substantiate Gately’s claims, but she did have ‘obvious injuries’ to her lip and ear.

Gately gasped as magistrates sentenced her to four months in prison.

She was also ordered to pay £200 in court costs and charges.