A ‘toxic relationship’ left a Haverfordwest builder with a payday loan, a court appearance and a restraining order.

Connor Rowe, of Rose Hill, Port Field Gate, pleaded guilty to criminal damage when he appeared at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Wednesday, September 12.

Rowe, 22, admitted destroying a Samsung Galaxy mobile phone, worth £100, on August 3.

A charge of assault, denied by Rowe, was dismissed by the court.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, told the court that Rowe and his then girlfriend were arguing on August 3.

“She was going to ring the police, he took the phone from her and threw it against the wall, causing damage. The screen was cracked.”

Mike Kelleher, defending, said the pair had been in a ‘toxic relationship’ with frequent rows.

“He took out £6,000 of payday loans to redo the bedroom, kitchen, etc, because he is a builder by profession.

“He gave up his job, looked after her children, and did up her property.

“He still has the loans, and, one imagines, she still has the benefit of the improvements to her property.”

The court heard that Rowe had spent a week on remand in Swansea prison following the incident, and had returned to stay with his family.

Mr Kelleher said: “It has been a salutary lesson to him.”

He added that Rowe hoped to return to work in the near future.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered Rowe to pay £85 court costs, plus £100 compensation for the broken phone.

A three year restraining order was imposed not to contact his ex-partner or to loiter within 20 metres of her address.