Crime

Pembrokeshire man’s ‘humiliation’ after childhood abuse allegations ignored by Surrey Police Force

Published

2 years ago

February 24, 2023

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has spoken of his ‘desperation, violation and humiliation’ after Surrey Police Force deliberately turned its back on his allegations of abuse which persisted throughout his childhood and adolescence.

Steven Delahunty suffered months of defeat at the hands of Surrey police officers as he attempted to commence an investigation into his historical child abuse claims.

‘Here is a man who had a serious complaint”, commented Judge Huw Rees during today’s trial at Swansea Crown Court.

“But the police did nothing about it. His face was set against the wall and he was acting in desperation.”

Mr Delahunty, 50, denied two charges of sending electronic messages, namely voicemails and tweets, to Surrey Police Force with the intention of causing anxiety or distress.

Throughout the trial Delahunty, of Westgate Hill, Pembroke, said his actions were the cry of a ‘desperate man who had reached breaking point’.

“My motivation was simply to ask for help,” he told the jury in his mitigation. “I was in a bad way. After ten and a half months, I lost it. I’m sorry.”

Delahunty sent the first batch of electronic messages to the personal assistant of the Surrey Crime Commissioner on the morning of Sunday, April 8, 2022. The first voicemail was made at 8.05am and nine further messages were sent every few minutes, ending at 8.31am.

The messages related to the way in which Surrey police had failed to respond to historic child abuse allegations which Delahunty claimed he had endured throughout his childhood and adolescence years.

Mr Delahunty stated that he was ‘contemplating killing and executing Surrey police officers’.

“I don’t want to take anybody’s life, but I’ve been abused by the state and by Surrey Police”, read one message.

Another read “If I tried to take the law into my own hands and execute or kill a police officer, maybe I’d get a reaction.”

The second charge related to a number of tweets which Delahunty sent to Surrey Police Force under his twitter name of Astro Paradiso, on August 7, 2022.

“If I had an automatic rifle, I’d be down Surrey police headquarters in Guildford’ read one post while another said, ‘When you discovered I lived in Pembrokeshire, you did not care. Nothing has been done. No letter, sweet FA.”

Delahunty chose to be legally unrepresented in court. In his mitigation he said his actions were the result of his increased desperation at being overlooked by the police in his efforts to challenge his allegations of childhood abuse.

In May, 2021, he was interviewed by a female officer concerning his allegations and was confident that this might finally lead to a police investigation into his allegations..

“I thought that at last I’ve got someone who will understand me,” said Delahunty, breaking down in tears in the dock.

“She listened to what I had to say for over an hour and the following day sent me an email saying she would be away on annual leave but would get back to tell me what was going on. But she never did.

“I felt violated and humiliated.

“ For ten and a half months I kept calling up and asking what was going on, but I felt I was being treated like Benny in Crossroads…like the village idiot.”

Mr Delahunty went on to say that on one occasion he was asked to provide Surrey officers with his current postal address.

“And when I told her, the officer said, ‘Pembrokeshire?’ We’re not going there. I’m not being funny, but have you ever thought of speaking to The Samaritans?’

“And that was when I made the decision to take control of the situation for my own mental health – I thought I was going to have a mental breakdown.”

Steven Delahunty went on to accuse the police of deliberately prolonging their period of non-communication.

“My motivation was simply to ask for help but they chose to wait for four months because they wanted me to get back on the phone in an increasingly agitated state. They wanted the meat. The police were waiting for that threat to kill.”

After listening to the mitigation, the jury reached a unanimous verdict after a short deliberation of just over 30 minutes. Steven Delahunty was found not guilty on both charges.

Following the verdict, Judge Huw Rees requested that Mr Delahunty’s allegations concerning his child abuse be investigated by Dyfed-Powys Police. He invited them to meet with Mr Delahunty to discuss his concerns.

Crime

Ceredigion man sentenced for selling £150,000 in illegal DVDs

Published

9 mins ago

November 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A CEREDIGION man has been sentenced for selling counterfeit DVDs worth £150,000 under major brand names without authorization.

David Robert Thomas, 47, from Sarnau, ran a sophisticated online operation, producing and selling fake DVDs labeled with brands like Netflix, Amazon, Disney, Sony, and Universal City Studios LLC. Thomas used seven different websites and managed multiple bank and PayPal accounts, including those of family members, to carry out his business.

Councillor Matthew Vaux, Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: “Counterfeiting is often thought of as a victimless crime, but it harms the local economy by undermining legitimate businesses that pay taxes and create real jobs. This result sends a clear message that counterfeit sales will not be tolerated, and we will act against offenders.”

Thomas pleaded guilty at Swansea Crown Court on Monday (Nov 11) and was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. His sentence includes a four-month curfew and fifteen Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.

Under the Crime Act 2002, forfeiture proceedings will follow to reclaim the financial benefits from Thomas’s criminal activities. Judge Richards took into account the market value of equivalent genuine goods, the sophisticated setup of Thomas’s business, and his previously clean record in reaching the sentencing decision.

The case was brought forward successfully by Ceredigion County Council’s Trading Standards Service.

Crime

Welsh shop workers face ‘surge in shoplifting linked violence and abuse’ says union

Published

13 hours ago

November 13, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A NEW survey by retail trade union Usdaw has revealed disturbing figures on the abuse, threats, and violence endured by Welsh shop workers, with incidents increasingly linked to shoplifting. Released during Respect for Shop Workers Week, which runs from November 11 to 17, the statistics highlight a troubling trend that is impacting thousands of retail employees.

Usdaw’s survey, based on responses from over 4,000 retail staff, shows that in the past year:

69% experienced verbal abuse.
45% were threatened by customers.
17% were assaulted.

Usdaw General Secretary Paddy Lillis commented on the findings, saying: “Shop workers deserve far more respect than they receive. These reports from Welsh retail staff make grim reading. It is shocking to see over two-thirds of our members subjected to abuse, threats, and violence. Seven in ten of these incidents are related to theft, much of it tied to addiction and organised crime.”

Usdaw’s survey suggests that shoplifting is increasingly becoming a flashpoint for violence. Many shop workers report encountering hardened criminals who appear to steal goods “to order” or to fund addictions. According to the union, incidents are on the rise across Wales, with police-reported shoplifting up by 33% in the past year.

Usdaw member testimonies paint a vivid picture of the dangers faced on the shop floor:

One respondent described being “spat at, pushed against a wall, punched, and threatened with a knife.”
Another reported that, after refusing to sell alcohol, they were told to “F**k off” and threatened with a beating by a group of five.
Others spoke of being punched, spat on, and verbally abused, with threats that often left lasting emotional scars.

New measures on the horizon

Usdaw has been calling for greater legal protection for retail workers for years, and it appears these calls are finally being heard. The recent Crime and Policing Bill, announced in the King’s Speech, proposes to:

End the £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has been a source of frustration for retailers.
Introduce town centre banning orders for repeat offenders.
Allocate funding for tackling organised shoplifting and increase police presence in shopping areas.

“We welcome these new measures and hope they will provide much-needed protection,” said Mr. Lillis. “After 14 years of neglect under successive Tory governments, we are encouraged by the steps the new Labour government is taking to address the retail crime epidemic.”

As Christmas approaches—a time when retail crime tends to peak—Usdaw is urging the public to “respect shop workers” and remain calm as stores become busier.

Usdaw, which represents around 360,000 members, primarily in retail, launched its Freedom From Fear Campaign to tackle the growing issue of violence against shop workers. The final results of the 2024 survey are expected in March 2025.

Crime

Pembroke Dock resident faces court over dog control breaches

Published

19 hours ago

November 13, 2024

Court Reporter

PHILIP Murray, 52, of 11 Picton Place, Pembroke Dock, will appear at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Nov 14) to face several charges of breaching a community protection notice. The notice, issued under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, required Murray to control his dogs in response to repeated disturbances.

The charges relate to incidents from May to September 2024, when Murray allegedly failed to comply with the restrictions set out in a notice issued on January 3, 2024. Court documents state that despite multiple warnings, Murray continued to disregard the order, leading to ongoing issues linked to his dogs’ behaviour.

If found guilty, Murray could face a Level 4 fine for each offence. The hearing is scheduled to take place from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm in Courtroom 1, presided over by the Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire Adult Panel.

The case underscores the role of community protection notices in addressing persistent anti-social behavior.