A Newport woman has been found guilty of assaulting her elderly mother.

Deidre Mendos Edwards, 61, of Church Street, stood trial at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Wednesday, after pleading not guilty to causing Martha Edwards actual bodily harm.

Dennis Davies, prosecuting, told the bench that Edwards’ 94 year-old mother had to have three stitches to a leg wound, after the defendant lost her temper and tipped over a glass-topped coffee table.

The court heard that Edwards cared for her mother, and the incident occurred after words were exchanged when she went to her mother’s home on May 13.

Mr Davies said: “At some point the defendant tipped over a glass coffee table. It smashed and her mother received a gash to her leg.

“She caused the damage because she lost her temper. 

"To do that in the confinement of a room with an elderly lady present was reckless.”

Police were contacted by social services following Mrs Edwards’ hospital visit, but she stated did not wish to make a complaint.

The court heard that Edwards told police her mother had asked her to call at her home, then upset her and made her feel at her ‘beck and call’ in a ‘toxic’ family situation.

Edwards said her mother had made provocative statements during their argument, which "covered a lot of ground" regarding her relationship with her siblings.

She said: “I stood up and threw my hands in the air and just kicked it in despair and overwhelming outrage at what she was saying.

“I have never done anything to harm my mother. 

I look after her with great love and attention to detail. 

I never intended to hurt her, it was a complete accident.”

Edwards added that after kicking the table, she picked it up and dropped it, causing the glass to smash.

Katy Hanson, defending, told the court that Edwards was of previous clean character, and had moved to the area to care for her mother.

Magistrates found Edwards guilty and adjourned sentencing until December 14 for a report to be completed.