Crime

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

Published

1 year 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

Teenager disqualified from driving after taking cannabis

Published

2 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Court Reporter

A 19-YEAR-OLD motorist has been ordered off the roads after being caught driving after consuming cannabis.

Police officers stopped Robbie Ralph at around 6.15pm on November 15 as he drove his black Volkswagen Polo on the A40 between Slebech and Canaston Bridge.

“Officers stopped the vehicle because its rear number plate was unclear as a result of dirt,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

When officers spoke to the defendant, they noticed a strong smell of cannabis emanating from inside the vehicle. A roadside drugs wipe proved positive and Ralph was conveyed to a police custody suite where further blood tests to be carried out. These gave a Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol reading of 4.6; the legal limit is 2.

Ralph, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to a charge of drug-driving. He was legally represented in court by Mr Michael Kelleher who informed magistrates his client had consumed the drug the previous evening.

“This was a dreadful mistake for him, however it’s not recognised by many people that when you take drugs, they hang around in your system for a lot longer than you’d expect,” he said.

“This has been a complete disaster and the future for my client looks very bleak.”

Ralph, of Cardigan Road, Haverfordwest, was disqualified from driving for a total of 12 months. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.

Crime

Drunken motorist sentenced for being in charge of Audi A4

Published

2 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Court Reporter

A 54-YEAR-OLD motorist has appeared before magistrates after staggering drunkenly into his Audi A4 before placing the keys in the ignition and turning on music.

The motorist was observed by police officers just before 1am on April 27 as he approached his Audion the B4585 at Manorbier.

“The man was seen staggering towards the officers before getting into the Audi,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“They then heard music coming from inside the vehicle. As they approached, they saw Shaun Lees sitting in the driver’s seat with the key in the ignition. When they spoke to him his speech was slurred.”

A roadside breath test was carried out which proved positive, giving a reading of 80 mcg. The legal limit is 35.

Lees, of Dewing Avenue, Manorbier, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a motor vehicle when he was above the legal alcohol limit.

He was represented in court by Mr Michael Kelleher.

“My client’s intention was to get something out of the car and then walk home, as he only lives around half a mile away,” he said.

“He didn’t start the car, and he wasn’t aware that a policeman was watching him.”

Mr Kelleher told the court that the defendant has been employed as a civil servant for the past 21 years.

“This offence was a big mistake, but my client never intended to drive the vehicle that night,” he said.

Lees was fined £266 and ordered to pay a £106 surcharge and £85 costs. His licence was endorsed with ten penalty points.

Crime

Motorst sentenced for failing to provide breath test

Published

2 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Court Reporter

A MOTORIST who opted ‘to go with a no’ when asked to provide a breath test following a collision in Tenby, this week found himself in the dock for sentence.

Officers were called to an undisclosed location in Tenby town centre just after midnight on April 13.

“There had been a single vehicle road traffic collision and when officers arrived at the scene they discovered the vehicle in the middle of the road and the defendant, Lewis Turmol, standing on the pavement,” said Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker.

“When spoken to by officers, his first words were ‘I’m in the s***.’”

A roadside breath test proved positive, giving a reading of 88mcg, and Turmol, 27, was conveyed to Llanelli police station suite where he was asked to provide two further breath tests.

“But when he was asked to provide the samples, he said “I’ll go with a no,” said Ms Baker. “And he continued to refuse to provide.”

Meanwhile probation officer Julie Norman said that at the time of the offence Tormol was working in Tenby and has consumed four pints of alcohol after finishing his shift before returning to his previous home in Saundersfoot,

The defendant, who has now relocated to an address in Barry, pleaded guilty to the charge of failing to provide a specimen for police analysis.

But his solicitor, Stephen John, claimed his client was unaware of the seriousness of the offence.

“He didn’t quite realise what was going on,” he said. “He was told that whatever happened, he would be disqualified, but by refusing to provide a sample, it isn’t quite as simple as that. Had it been explained to him, he probably wouldn’t be here today.”

Turmoil was disqualified from driving for 24 months. He was also ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and ten rehabilitation activity requirement days. He must pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 costs.