19-05-2025
Dad thrown behind bars over vile threats to kill his own son
A MAN who was 'motivated through revenge' has been jailed after he made a series of threats to kill his own son.
Fraser Bourke-Connell, 53, and his partner were driving home from the theatre in Cardigan on September 7 last year. As they were driving, the defendant 'became erratic' and demanded that she took him to his son's house, saying that his son 'can't get away with ruining my evening'.
He continued to say his son 'needs to die' and said 'I need to kill him tonight'.
The defendant was arrested, and was released on bail.
Ms Walton told the court that during a conversation with his mental health community advocate on October 4, Bourke-Connell said that he wanted to kill his son, before disclosing he wanted to 'stab him with his own femur'.
Days later, Bourke-Connell made further threats against his son during a phone call with his mental health community advocate that he wanted to strangle his son and mutilate him. He also suggested that he would make his partner watch this.
On the evening of October 7, the defendant turned up at his son's step-brother's home and asked where the spare keys were to his son's car.
When the step-brother refused to tell him, Bourke-Connell pushed his finger into his chest and threatened to 'smash everything' in his storage container. He also threatened that he would then go and smash his son's car.
Bourke-Connell was also charged with harassment against his son, relating to a series of unwanted messages between June 30 and August 31 last year.
In the messages, the defendant told his son that he 'wanted him to die', and that he 'wanted to snap his leg and stab him in the chest with it'.
'It was motivated through revenge,' Ms Walton said.
The defendant, of Cilgerran, admitted two offences of making threats to kill, as well as sending threatening communications, threatening to damage property, and harassment without violence.
Ms Walton said the defendant had one previous conviction for three offences dating back to 2000.
Emily Bennett, in mitigation, said the period since his last offences showed 'he is able to live a law-abiding life'.
She said the defendant's guilty pleas – which came two months before his scheduled trial – showed that he was taking responsibility for his actions.
Bourke-Connell was now accepting support for his mental health diagnosis whilst in custody, Ms Bennett added, and he had also completed courses in order to help him upon his release from prison.
She said that the defendant had sought help from the police prior to these offences 'due to receiving threats'.
Judge Catherine Richards sentenced Bourke-Connell to a total of 18 months imprisonment, and granted his son a three-year restraining order against him.
The prosecution offered no evidence on the remaining charges, and Judge Richards entered not guilty verdicts.
