The father of a defendant threatened a police officer appearing as a witness in his daughter's trial and made notes on his phone referring to the officer as a "dead man walking". He told the officer to "watch out" and "wait and see" as well as telling him he knew where he lived.
Abdulla Taleb, 54, confronted DC Barry Redmond at Cardiff Crown Court on December 19 last year as the officer was waiting for the trial of Kirsty Taleb-Williams to begin. She was charged with being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and pleaded guilty to the offence the following day.
Upon seeing DC Remond, Taleb began shouting at him and was described as "snarling and aggressive". He threatened the officer, who was shocked and concerned for his safety.
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A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday heard DC Redmond spoke to colleagues at court and they approached Taleb outside court seven. He asked the defendant why he had threatened him and asked for his name.
Prosecutor Bethan Evans said Taleb laughed and denied making threats and shouting, but winked as he answered. He also gave his name as John Jones.
In order not to affect the trial of Taleb-Williams, the decision was made not to arrest Taleb but police managed to discover his true identity.
At the end of the court day, Taleb left the building while continuing to issue threats against DC Redmond, saying "Look out, you wait." He was arrested at court the following day and made a no comment interview.
The defendant's phone was seized and examined, which resulted in the discovery notes referring to DC Redmond, dating back as far as March 2022. One note said: "Tell Barry I know where he lives and I'll send some boys up his house for treating my kids like c****... Tell the c*** I want my Rolex back, he's finished."
Another note said: "Tell that c*** if my daughter gets charged with anything, he's dead. I f****** promise he'll never work for the police again. I will finish the c***, I promise, I will show you his postcode."
The notes became more sinister, with Taleb writing: "Do you know a good Gwent Police officer? A dead one. I'm not safe around any police officers, I'll kill any of the c****. Dead man walking, tell that c*** Abdulla Taleb is on it. DC Barry Redmond is dead, tell that fat c*** Abdulla Taleb is going to kill him."
Taleb, of Matherns Mill Fishery, Bailey's Hayt, Mathern, Monmouthshire, later pleaded guilty to intimidating a witness. The court heard he had previous convictions for dishonesty and violence, including grabbing his mother by the throat and spitting in her face, as well as sending threatening and abusive messages to his brother.
In mitigation, Kevin Seal described his client's notes as "the ramblings of somebody who was and remains deeply depressed". He said Taleb lives "in a caravan in the middle of a field" in an attempt to cut himself off from his family and the rest of the world due to his declining mental health and wellbeing.
Sentencing, the Recorder of Cardiff Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said: "Those who threaten witnesses generally must understand it's an extremely serious offence. In this case the threats are particularly serious as those threats took place inside and immediately outside the court building."
Taleb was sentenced to a total of 16 months imprisonment. He will serve half of the sentence in custody before he is released on licence.
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