Just before midnight on Saturday 16th August Firefighters from New Inn Fire Station responded to a call of a flooded domestic garage on Berthon Road, Little Mill. Fire Crews arrived and set up their pumping system to deal with the flood water.

Whilst doing this, the crew were subjected to verbal abuse from two neighbours who also wanted assistance with some minor flooding at their property. However, the severity of the flood at the address of the caller was more than the other properties on the street. Firefighters explained that there was little they could do with minor flooding and needed to work at the more severe flood site.

Following this, an irate adult female entered the fire engine’s cab and reversed the appliance into a car and a brick wall, causing damage to the appliance and car. Firefighters called for police assistance and the female was then arrested.

Gwent Police confirmed she has been charged with the offence of Aggravated Vehicle Taking and Use of a Motor Vehicle without Third Party Insurance and bailed to Abergavenny Magistrates Court on September 4, 2008 at 11.00am.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Kevin Barry said, “It is simply unacceptable for members of the community to subject our Fire Crews to abuse at the scene of an incident, where they are trying to help. To enter a Fire and Rescue Service vehicle and carelessly manoeuvre it into other vehicles shows a total lack of respect for the hard work of the emergency services.

“This woman’s actions are unbelievable and totally unacceptable and we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour. The lives of our firefighters and members of the public in the vicinity were clearly put at risk by such irresponsible behaviour.”