A Pembroke Dock resident woke to find a drunk stranger in his flat, a court has heard.

Clovis O’Donohue, of Fahy Gardens, Loughrea, Ireland, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to a door frame and lock when he appeared from custody at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday, December 11.

The court heard that a Pembroke Dock man woke to find someone in his flat in the early hours of December 10.

He discovered O’Donohue when he went to investigate and noticed he had damaged his front door when he escorted him out of the property.

When arrested, O’Donohue, 25, stated he had consumed five pints of lager and a bottle of spirits, and believed he was at his friend’s address in his drunken state.

Abul Hussain, prosecuting, said: “He pushed the door when he got no answer and caused the damage.”

Jonathan Webb, defending, said O’Donohue was visiting the UK from Ireland for a few days, and planned to stay with friends in Bristol and Flamouth before returning as part of a pre-Christmas break.

“Clearly he had more to drink than was good for him on the ferry coming over.

“For some reason he got it into his head that this random, upper-storey flat was his friend’s property and was banging on the door causing damage to the lock and door frame.”

Mr Webb added that O’Donohue was remorseful and apologised for his actions.

Magistrates fined him £80 and ordered him to pay £50 compensation for the damage and a £30 surcharge, and he was kept in custody until payment was made.

The chairman of the bench said: “You smashed the lock of a complete stranger and he is going to have to have the £50 for the damage you caused.”