THE woman who owns the former pub in Argoed where last week’s horrific murder took place says she is “devastated” at the way it has been portrayed.

Sirhowy Arms Hotel owner Mandy Miles said her hotel has been portrayed as a bail hostel, rather than a B&B establishment for the homeless, after the killing of Cerys Marie Yemm, 22, from Oakdale.

Matthew Williams, 34, who was tasered and arrested while attacking Miss Yemm, and who later died, was a resident at the Sirhowy Arms.

It is alleged he was committing an act of cannibalism, but Gwent Police have refused to confirm or deny the allegation.

It is understood Williams had been released from prison a few weeks ago – and that he had served prison sentences for a string of burglaries and attacking a woman.

South Wales East AM William Graham has called for an investigation into the way the hostel was run – and a Ministry of Justice serious case review will be held into the tragedy.

Mrs Miles stressed that not all of the residents in the Sirhowy Arms have been prisoners.

She told the Argus: “What we’re doing here is really positive.

“It’s wrong what people have said about us, I’m gutted that people think that.

“People here are frightened [after last week’s tragedy] but they haven’t left me, they’re still here.

“A lot of the residents here have got bad nerves anyway. There were two people from Markham who were in a house fire, they’ve had to come into the hotel. We’ve had people who have had a breakdown, people who get referred here by social services, people like that.

“It’s a really nice home in there. The police are outside most of the time but that’s not because people are kicking off. When people have had an incident, a fire or they’ve been burgled or they’ve been hit over the head, the police bring them here and then they come back to the hotel to take statements from them.

“Most of it is mental health issues. Don’t get me wrong, we do have some prisoners here but they’re not murderers.

“I can’t let people drink and smoke in the hotel. It’s really quiet, it’s nice for people to recuperate and recover after they’ve had a shock or a fire.

“Because people are homeless doesn’t mean they’re nothing. It could happen to anyone. We support people. We even collect furniture for people who had a fire at home and we help them move into their new properties.

“I used to have the public in the hotel, the public were getting drunk. I just preferred to help people that behave themselves. The homeless keep their heads down.

I’m so sorry that people feel it’s some sort of bail hostel where we tag people. I wouldn’t do that, I run it with my kids and my grandchildren come round.

“Mentally, I’m stressed. I’m upset about the stuff people are saying about the girl [Cerys Yemm], this is somebody’s daughter.

“It’s awful, this village need to get back to where it used to be. The money that I get from the council, I put back in the hotel. The council say it’s the best place they’ve had, they think it’s great.

“Homelessness, it’s got a stigma. ‘You are a druggy, a violent person.’ “I’m devastated at what people have said. It says hotel outside, we’re not a hostel.”