**Man Jailed After Racist Tirade and Knife Crime in Merthyr Tydfil**
A man from Gurnos, Merthyr Tydfil, has been sentenced to prison after launching a racist outburst at a police officer, following his arrest for carrying dangerous weapons in public. The incident, which took place late in the evening, saw 31-year-old Daniel Barnham shout support for the Ku Klux Klan whilst being detained, in addition to assaulting a serving officer.
The case was heard at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, where details emerged outlining Barnham’s behaviour on 30 March. At around 11pm, council CCTV captured him walking along Penydarren Road visibly carrying a steak knife and what later proved to be a sock loaded with rocks and a lock knife. His suspicious activity sparked a swift police response.
As police arrived at the scene, they found Barnham in the company of a woman. Officers challenged him about carrying a blade, prompting him to discard the steak knife before attempts were made to arrest him. During the process, Barnham became uncooperative, obstructing efforts to place him in the back of a police van. His resistance soon escalated into violence and racial abuse.
According to prosecutor Elin Morgan, while officers struggled to secure Barnham in the van, he used his feet to stop the door from closing. In the process, he delivered several kicks, one of which struck PC Tatlah—a police officer targeted not only by violence but also by verbal racial insults and references to the white supremacist group, the Ku Klux Klan. The officer did not sustain any injuries from the attack, but the incident was described in court as both alarming and deeply offensive.
After being finally restrained, Barnham made a desperate grab for the knife he had earlier thrown away. Quick action from the police prevented him from regaining control of the weapon. During the commotion, PC Tatlah’s hand was briefly trapped by the van’s cage door, but officers managed to complete the arrest and transport Barnham to a police station safely.
In police interviews that followed, Barnham explained that he originally had been using the steak knife at his girlfriend’s home and had forgotten it remained on his person. He claimed the lock knife was for food preparation as he was homeless at the time. Barnham apologised for his racist outburst, insisting he was not prejudiced and blaming his aggression on anger rather than ingrained belief.
Barnham formally admitted two charges of possessing blades in a public place, as well as offences of assaulting an emergency worker and racially aggravated harassment. The court further heard that Barnham’s criminal record included 26 previous offences, notably a crime spree in 2018 where he armed himself with a knife and committed multiple robberies, resulting in a six-year sentence.
Defending Barnham, barrister Hywel Davies told the court that his client was struggling with emotional difficulties, specifically citing anxiety over his mother’s wellbeing and the prospect of returning to prison. Davies also stated Barnham had stormed out of a probation meeting after he was classified as a “high risk” of re-offending, adding that Barnham wished to address his anger management issues and rebuild a relationship with his 10-year-old son.
Judge Jeremy Jenkins, sentencing Barnham to eight months in prison, condemned his actions as “disgraceful” and pointed to the necessity of ensuring police officers are able to carry out their duties free from violence and abuse. He made it clear that such offences would not be tolerated in the community.
This case once again highlights the risks faced by frontline officers and the ongoing need for robust responses to both weapons offences and hate crimes. South Wales Police have confirmed their commitment to tackling both violent and racially aggravated incidents, reassuring the public that such behaviour will be met with firm legal consequences.