**Disgraced Former Police Officer Fined for Assault After Marital Breakdown**
A former police constable whose career with South Wales Police came to a sudden end amid scandal has once again found himself before the courts. Byron Emerson-Thomas, aged 54 and formerly of Cowbridge, appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court this week, where he faced accusations of assault following a tumultuous period in his personal life.
Emerson-Thomas, previously forced to resign from his post in 2012 after being imprisoned for perverting the course of justice and illegal use of police systems, was this time on trial for his actions during a heated dispute linked to the collapse of his long-held marriage. The court heard that the altercation, involving his estranged wife Sarah Emerson-Thomas, also drew in a second person who became embroiled in the row, which allegedly centred on an argument over champagne bottles.
While the court cleared Emerson-Thomas of physically assaulting his wife during the incident, he was found guilty of assaulting the other individual present. The judge determined that Emerson-Thomas had used unnecessary force and should have chosen to remove himself from the confrontation. The victim, although not injured, was identified as the target of a deliberate push.
Emerson-Thomas’s past has been marked by a series of legal troubles. His police career ended in disgrace over a decade ago when it was discovered that he had tried to influence the outcome of a criminal investigation for personal gain, including using the promise of drinks as an incentive. A subsequent conviction saw him serve time behind bars, and further offences included the misuse of police computers to access information about associates and public figures. His history also features a conviction in 2019 for assaulting a man named Syed Ouafi, for which he was fined and ordered to attend rehabilitation sessions.
During the recent trial, Emerson-Thomas offered personal testimony, acknowledging the end of his 19-year marriage in October 2023 and confessing to infidelity. He insisted that in the controversial incident he “did nothing wrong” and maintained that he had handled the matter appropriately, even as the courtroom was told of mutual injuries allegedly inflicted by both parties during their dispute.
The presiding judge, Deputy District Judge Andrew Teate, remarked that behaviour on both sides during the altercation “left a lot to be desired,” noting that the situation could have been diffused more sensibly by all involved. He made particular reference to the 999 call received during the incident, observing that audio captured contradicted claims of composure from Mrs Emerson-Thomas.
Upon conviction, a visibly emotional Emerson-Thomas learned he must pay a fine of £280, prosecution costs of £325, and £112 compensation to the victim of the assault, all within three months. The former police officer, who currently relies on a monthly police pension of £805 and has not been in recent employment, confirmed his understanding of the penalty while struggling to contain his emotions in the dock.
During the trial, details of Emerson-Thomas’s previous brushes with the law were revisited. In one 2008 episode, while still serving as a police officer, he was cleared of wounding a fellow officer during a work-related altercation. He had also previously tried to help an acquaintance avoid criminal charges, actions which ultimately contributed to his departure from the force.
His defence solicitor, David Elias, conceded that past actions had been “foolish,” linking them in part to underlying obsessive compulsive disorder and workplace dissatisfaction.
This most recent conviction serves as another chapter in the troubled post-police life of Byron Emerson-Thomas, drawing attention to the broader issues of conduct expected from those in public service roles and the personal difficulties they may face. The court’s decision aims to reinforce the principle that no individual is above the law and highlights the consequences that can result from actions taken in moments of personal crisis.