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Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Teen dad shook crying baby until newborn had brain damage - then blamed the dog
Dafydd Rutherford, 22, shook his newborn to the point of irreparable brain damage and initially blamed the dog, claiming it knocked over the baby's basket before he admitted the truth A young dad shook his crying baby until the newborn had irreparable brain damage and had the audacity to blame the family dog. Dafydd Rutherford's shaking led his weeks-old infant to suffer multiple brain bleeds that have had life-long and devastating consequences, Swansea Crown Court heard. The court was told how Rutherford confessed to shaking his baby out of frustration and said it was not done to harm the child but was done instead to "stop the baby crying." His defence lawyers said the offence was a result of "immaturity, impulsivity, and recklessness", stating that Rutherford, who was a teenager at the time, "simply wasn't ready for a child." Head scans revealed the baby suffered bleeding on the brain, which led to the involvement of police and social services. The court heard how the infant was rushed to the paediatric care unit at the University Hospital of Wales, in Cardiff. MRI scans showed bleeding on both sides of the brain around the spinal cord as well as damage to the brain due to being deprived of oxygen, Wales Online reported. Rutherford initially denied having caused the injuries to his child and claimed the dog knocked over the baby's basket. The defendant then admitted he had become frustrated with the dog barking and the baby crying before confessing to shaking the infant "three or four times." An impact statement from the baby's relatives read to the court described having felt as though they were "torn apart" while the defendant remained silent. They added that by failing to tell doctors, Rutherford had "chosen to help himself rather than help his [child.]" Rutherford, 22, previously admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm when he appeared for sentencing. Stuart John representing Rutherford, told the court that his client recognised he has inflicted "irreparable damage" upon his infant child as well as the entire family. He added the crime came from a place of "immaturity, impulsivity, and recklessness" and said the defendant would be haunted by his actions for the rest of his life. He said at the time of the incident he was a teenager who was "not ready for a child." Judge Catherine Richards told Rutherford that the baby had only been weeks old when he inflicted "devastating" injuries. She said the defendant initially refused to take responsibility for the injuries before confessing he became frustrated by the dog and baby, resulting in him losing his temper. Following a reduction for his guilty plea, Rutherford received a 28-month prison sentence. He will serve up to half of the term before being released on licence to complete the remainder in his community.
Western Telegraph
a day ago
- Western Telegraph
Milford Haven man went to sell drugs at Winchester festival
Prosecutor Georgia Donohue told Swansea Crown Court that police stopped a vehicle on the A31 at Winchester on August 8 last year after receiving intelligence it was involved in supplying drugs. Justin Cadwell was in the passenger seat, and his sister was driving. Upon searching the vehicle, officers found 44.363 grams of cannabis, nitrous oxide cannisters worth a total of £2,225, two packages of ketamine totalling 15.11g, 12.4g of MDMA, and another two small quantities of cannabis. 'It's accepted this was being taken to a festival,' said Ms Donohue. For the latest crime and court news for west Wales, you can join our Facebook group here. Cadwell told officers his sister was not involved, and an analysis of the messages on her phone confirmed this. Officers found drug-related messages on the defendant's phone going back to December 2 the previous year. Cadwell's home was searched, and officers found 53.25g of cannabis, 450g of cannabis resin, 29.8g of cocaine, a cutting agent, and empty snap bags in a locked garden shed. He was also found to have £25,307.85 in cash stashed in the shed and his bedroom. Cadwell claimed the drugs were for his personal use, and the cash was from his work as a window cleaner and gifted from his dad. The defendant was bailed, and when this lapsed he was released under investigation. Justin Cadwell went back to dealing after he was caught taking drugs to sell at a festival. (Image: Dyfed-Powys Police) Emergency services were called to an e-bike crash at Hakin Point in Milford Haven at around 7pm on March 1. The bike had no lights, and the passenger wasn't wearing a helmet. The rider – Cadwell – was knocked unconscious and his passenger was hospitalised. Paramedics cut off Cadwell's jacket to treat him, and white powder spilled out. He was found in possession of 10.21g of cocaine and 60g of cannabis, as well as £588.03 in cash. Cadwell refused to take a drugs test, and claimed the drugs were for personal use and the cash was a loan from his dad. The defendant, of Picton Close in Hakin, pleaded guilty to two offences of possession with intent to supply cocaine, three offences of possession with intent to supply cannabis, as well as possession with intent to supply nitrous oxide and cannabis resin, and being concerned in the supply of cannabis. He also admitted possession of criminal property and failing to provide a specimen when required. Ryan Bowen, in mitigation, said: 'The defendant understands that, in his case, only immediate custody can be warranted.' He said Cadwell's guilty pleas indicated a 'genuine acceptance of wrongdoing' and were his most powerful mitigation. Mr Bowen said none of Cadwell's 15 previous convictions for 26 offences were for drug supply offences – although five were for drug possession. He said 28-year-old Cadwell had been using drugs since he was 17, and that his addiction was a 'considerable shame for him' Judge Geraint Walters sentenced Cadwell for two years for the Winchester offences, and an additional three years for the Milford Haven offences. A Proceeds of Crime Act application has been made to attempt to recoup the profits Cadwell made from his offending.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Teen father, 19, blamed pet dog for baby's 'irreparable' brain damage after violently shaking them
A young father has blamed his own pet dog for injuries to his five-week-old baby. Dafydd Rutherford, then 19, shook his crying baby causing his child to suffer multiple bleeds on the brain, with 'life-threatening consequences'. He then blamed the dog for knocking the baby's basket over at their home while the child's mother was shopping, a court heard. Rutherford later admitted he shook the baby to stop them crying because the dog was barking. He made the admission after hospital staff examined the infant's injuries. Megan Williams, prosecuting said the alarm was raised by medics after the baby was brought in from their home in Swansea. The child had a series of parallel bruises on its chest and was 'pale', but then suffered a seizure. MRI scans revealed that the baby had suffered bleeding to both sides of the brain, bleeding around the spinal cord, and damage to the brain caused by a lack of oxygen. Both parents were arrested - and during police interviews Rutherford denied being responsible for the injuries to his child, saying the dog had knocked the baby's basket over. He said he had picked the baby up and when they went to sleep he put the child down and went into the kitchen. But Rutherford later admitted he had become frustrated at the dog barking as well as the baby crying and had shaken the infant 'three or four times'. The prosecutor said the defendant told officers 'he didn't wish to hurt [the child] he simply wished to stop [them] crying'. Swansea Crown Court heard the victim has been left with developmental delay as a result of injuries to the brain. In an impact statement from the baby's family which was read the court they described how they had been 'torn apart'. They said in not telling the doctors what had really happened straight away so they could provide appropriate treatment, Rutherford had 'chosen to help himself rather than help his [child.]' Rutherford, now 22, of Swansea, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm. Stuart John, defending, said he has caused 'irreparable damage' to his young baby and to the wider family. He said the offence was born from 'immaturity, impulsivity, and recklessness' and was something he would regret for the rest of his life. Judge Catherine Richards told Rutherford his child had been just weeks old when he caused 'devastating' injuries in what is typically characterised as 'shaken baby syndrome'. She said the defendant had then denied being responsible for the injuries until later admitting he had become frustrated at the dog barking and the baby crying and lost his temper. Rutherford was sentenced to 28 months in prison.
The Sun
20-07-2025
- The Sun
Man brutally beaten up by friend, stripped naked and paraded through village while neighbours filmed him
A MAN has been jailed after brutally beating up a friend and parading him naked through the streets. Thug Karl Griffins, 42, received a huge sentence after the horrifying ordeal was caught on camera by neighbours. 3 3 Swansea Crown Court heard that Griffins spent much of the day and evening of January 30 at a friend's house in the Welsh village of Penclawdd. According to prosecutor Crag Jones, Griffins received a phone call and left the flat before returning and locking the door behind him. Then, he told everyone inside that they couldn't leave. Next, the court heard that he took the phones of his friend and his friend's partner and accused them of stealing from them though it was unclear whether he was accusing them of stealing money or drugs. Griffins refused to return the couple's phones and then beat the pair with his friend's girlfriend's crutches. The court heard that he punched his friend in the head, before demanding that he removed his clothes. Reportedly, Griffins told his friend that they were 'going for a walk' and 'paraded him naked around the streets'. Mobile phone footage of the victim near the Penclawdd CK store was recorded during the ordeal, before Griffins returned his friend to the flat. The 42-year-old smashed his friend's TV before calling the police and saying: 'Someone better come and get me, I'm going to kill someone.' Griffins was arrested and told authorities that he had gone to his friend's house after arguing with his mother. Moment riot cops smash shield into man's face and 'knock his teeth out' in clash after migrant 'sexually assaulted' girl He accused the friend of stealing from him and admitted to parading him naked in a bid to humiliate him. Before appearing in the dock for sentencing, Griffins pleaded guilty to a slew of crimes including battery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, criminal damage and kidnapping. The 42-year-old was then slapped with a 31 month prison sentence, with half of his sentence to be served behind bars. His defence said that no disagreement between Griffins and his friend "could not remotely justify the level of humiliation and violence" caused by his client. He added that it was clear in the video footage that the victim was distressed as "he was marched through the centre of Penclawdd in a state of undress". Griffins' defence said that his client's actions could be explained through him being intoxicated and that he was now facing his addiction to controlled drugs. The 42-year-old has been granted enhanced-prisoner status at HMP Swansea and allegedly hopes that his former friend can forgive him in the future. Griffins has a history of criminal activity, including non-domestic burglaries, supplying Class A drugs and weapons offences. 3
Metro
20-07-2025
- Metro
Man made friend strip before 'parading' him through Welsh village naked
A man who beat up his friend and made him remove his clothes before 'parading' him naked through the streets has been jailed. Swansea Crown Court heard that Karl Griffiths, 42, attacked his friend and the friend's partner during a gathering at a flat in Penclawdd on January 30. Griffiths, who the judge said was likely under the influence of alcohol or drugs, had taken the phones of the friend and his partner and accused them of stealing from him. The prosecuting lawyer said he then beat them using crutches while shouting abuse at the couple. Griffiths then 'demanded' that his friend take his clothes off and told him they were 'going for a walk,' the prosecutor said. He proceeded to force his naked friend outside and 'essentially paraded him naked around the streets' in the middle of the village. The ordeal was filmed by onlookers in the village, before continuing when they returned to the flat, the court heard. Griffiths then smashed a TV and called police, saying: 'Someone better come and get me, I'm going to kill someone'. He was arrested and told police he had gone to his friend's flat after arguing with his mother. Griffiths admitted to giving his friend 'a clip' and hitting him with 'a few punches'. In an impact statement which was read to the court by the prosecution barrister, the victim said the experience had a massive impact on his mental health and left him feeling unsafe in his own home. But he added that while what the defendant did to him and his partner was 'not right' he did not support the prosecution. Griffiths had previously pleaded guilty to battery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, criminal damage, and kidnapping when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. The court heard he has a 'substantial criminal history' including non-domestic burglaries, dishonesty matters, weapons offences, and supplying Class A drugs. More Trending James Hartson, acting for Griffiths, said whatever grievance the defendant may have had with his friend it 'could not remotely justify the level of humiliation and violence' handed out. He said he had seen the mobile phone footage of the incident and said it was clear the victim was distressed as 'he was marched through the centre of Penclawdd in a state of undress'. Judge Huw Rees said Griffiths' behaviour had been 'irrational' and probably done under the influence of drink and drugs, but added it was clear from references he had read that other people thought well of the defendant and regarded him as a 'kindly man'. Griffiths was was sentenced to 31 months in prison. His barrister said he hoped his friend could eventually forgive him. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Afghan veteran warns data breach poses shadow threat 'for years to come' MORE: Three minutes cut from 'raw' prison footage of the night Epstein died MORE: Serial killer about to be executed in Florida has surprising last words
