A 51-YEAR-OLD man, Darren Thomas, of no fixed abode, appeared in Swansea Crown Court today (Oct 21) facing charges of sending electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety, along with two counts of criminal damage. The proceedings, presided over by Her Honour Judge Catherine Richards, revealed a turbulent family dispute involving threats and accusations.
THREATS MADE
The prosecution, led by Mr. Rees, detailed the events of October 5, 2023. Thomas is accused of making a threatening phone call to his mother, Pamela Thomas, while she was staying with her daughter in Cardiff. During the call, Thomas allegedly told his mother he would “take Bell,” her dog, and threatened to “burn” her and then “kill himself.” These statements were reportedly heard by a witness who recognized Thomas’s voice.
Pamela Thomas, testifying in court, described the call, saying: “He just started shouting really, screaming at me, that he hated me and that he was gonna come and get my dog and said that he was gonna burn me and then kill himself.” She stated that her son-in-law, Richard, called the police after the distressing conversation.
VOLATILE RELATIONSHIP
The defence, represented by Mr. Murphy, questioned the nature of the relationship between Darren Thomas and his mother. Pamela acknowledged that although her son had never been physically abusive towards her, he could be “volatile” and had stayed with her sporadically following his release from prison. The defence suggested that the call was a set-up to keep Thomas in court, a claim Pamela firmly denied, stating, “They were 100%, he’s my son, I love my son but he did.”
POLICE RESPONSE AND EVIDENCE
The court heard from Richard, the son-in-law, who made two calls to 999 after the alleged threats. He testified that the first call did not result in immediate police action, prompting a second call in which he emphasized the threats made by Thomas. Recordings of these calls were played in court, during which Thomas could be heard shouting in the background, further unsettling the courtroom.
The jury also watched footage from an interview between Thomas and a police officer, PC Thomas, conducted at Swansea Police Station. In the footage, Darren Thomas denied making the threats, claiming he had not spoken directly to his mother since July 19, 2023. However, he admitted to being at Howard’s residence, where the call originated.
DEFENCE ARGUMENTS AND INTERRUPTIONS
Throughout the hearing, Thomas frequently interrupted, shouting and swearing at witnesses. His defence lawyer, Mr. Murphy, argued that the allegations were an attempt to manipulate the court into arresting Thomas and that the family sought to prevent him from accessing his belongings. The defence suggested that Richard and Pamela had orchestrated the call to incriminate Thomas, a claim they both denied.
Judge Catherine Richards, addressing Thomas’s repeated outbursts, warned him to “contain yourself,” cautioning that further disruptions would result in him being removed from the courtroom.
COURT TO RESUME
The case is set to continue tomorrow (Oct 22) at 10:30am, with further evidence to be presented, including testimony from the police officer who handled the initial investigation. The proceedings will also consider Thomas’s behaviour following his release from prison and its impact on his family relationships.
Throughout the trial, emotions ran high as the court delved into the troubled dynamics within the Thomas family. The jury has been instructed not to discuss the case during their break.
