Abuser’s ‘world record’ breach of restraining order
A DOMESTIC abuser breached a restraining order in “world record” time by posting a message on social media as he was leaving court.
Darryl Socha had been made subject to the restraining order forbidding him to contact his former partner at Swansea Crown Court in August after being convicted of offences of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage. The incident had involved him using a “piece of household furniture”.
The order meant he was also not able to contact his former partner, or refer to her, on social media. But within minutes of leaving the courtroom he had posted a message saying “I’m free” together with pictures of chains.
The 26-year-old, from Talbot Road in Port Talbot, added: “Haha she is going to be fuming” – understood to be a reference to the fact he had received a suspended sentence and had not been taken into custody.
His actions meant he was brought back before the same court after it was discovered he had broken the order. Mr Scapens added: “The prosecution says it was a deliberate act.”
Prosecutor Tom Scapens told the court that further to his message a friend of Socha had messaged the victim accusing her of being a bad parent and encouraging him to tag her into his post.
In a victim personal statement she said: “I hoped with a restraining order I would feel protected but as it was breached within minutes of court I could tell he wasn’t taking it seriously. I feel threatened people will approach me in the street.”
Judge Paul Thomas QC told the defendant: “To be quite honest you are one of the most stupid people who have come before me in a long time.
“Within five minutes of you getting a suspended sentence you were making comments about your expartner on social media.
“You said you were sorry but that did not last long, did it? Your breach of the suspended sentence was probably close to being a world record within five minutes of it being imposed.
“You were told of the consequences of breaching it.”
Socha, who had been in custody for almost a month following his arrest for breaching the order, had originally been sentenced to 15 months imprisonment suspended for 24 months.
For the breach of the restraining order a further three months were added to the custodial term of the suspended sentence, bringing the total to 18 months.
Judge Thomas added: “I hope police are trying to find the friend [who posted a message supporting Socha] and it may be our paths cross.”
Gwendolyn Sterk, head of public affairs and communications at Welsh Women’s Aid said: “Online abuse can be used by partners and ex-partners as a means to violate, control, and instil fear in survivors.
“Online abuse can commonly include trolling, cyber-stalking and tracking/surveillance through smartphone and smart home devices.
“Perpetrators do not need to physically access survivors to carry out this form of intimidation, enabling them to continue their abuse after the relationship has ended.
“The effects of online abuse are far-reaching, often impacting heavily on survivors’ mental health and wellbeing, and may cause them to feel unsafe offline as well as online.
“Survivors have a right to access online spaces free from harassment and to use technology without fear – it is crucial that online abuse is taken seriously by technology and internet companies as well as the police and criminal justice system.”
If you or someone you know has been affected by domestic violence visit the Live Fear Free website at https://gov.wales/livefear-free or call the helpline on 0808 80 10 800.