Police contact with a pregnant woman who said she “expected to die” after being beaten by her then-boyfriend is to be investigated by an independent watchdog.
Craig Paul Thomas, 35, from Llanishen in Cardiff , was jailed for 10 years in December 2013 for violence including headbutting his girlfriend, hitting her with a hammer, burning her with cigarettes and threatening to “tear the face off” her son during a litany of abuse described as “appalling” by a judge.
He also smashed her in the stomach with a pole – vowing to “beat the baby out of her”.
Calls from public
Now the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) says it is investigating police contact with his victim prior to the violent assault.
The IPCC said South Wales Police (SWP) attended separate addresses, in May and July 2013, after calls from members of the public expressing concern for the woman’s welfare.
On July 10, 2013, about 36 hours after police officers had spoken to her and Thomas at his address, the woman reported an assault and her then-partner was arrested.
In a statement, the IPCC said: “The IPCC’s independent investigation follows a complaint by the woman about how SWP handled incidents before she reported the abuse to police.
Serious domestic violence
“The woman also appealed to the IPCC about a subsequent police investigation into her complaint.”
IPCC Commissioner for Wales, Jan Williams, added: “This was a serious domestic violence case, and we are gaining accounts from the victim and relevant officers.
“We are examining South Wales Police’s response to the incidents, and whether relevant domestic abuse procedures and policies were followed.”
Wednesday's announcement from the IPCC was welcomed by charity Welsh Women’s Aid.
Quality of responses need to be 'significantly improved'
Chief executive Eleri Butler said it was "another investigation into police forces in Wales which suggests the quality of the initial response and the following investigation undertaken by responding police officers needs to be significantly improved".
She added: "It is the role of the police to make sure that victims are listened to, understood and protected, that criminal justice sanctions are pursued and that perpetrators are held to account for their crimes.
"We are keen to work with South Wales Police to help them places victims’ experiences and needs at the centre of their work and to strengthen police responses to survivors of domestic abuse, so that the safety of women and children is maximised and offenders are brought to justice.”
Thomas’ appeal against his 10-year jail term was thrown out by Appeal Court judges in June 2014.
Mr Justice Supperstone told him: “This was an appalling case of very serious violence, repeatedly inflicted by Thomas on his pregnant partner at her home.”
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/police-watchdog-investigates-after-pregnant-11442848
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