**Widow Criticises Police Response over Partner’s Sudden Death Amid Ongoing Land Dispute**
A woman from Abercynon has spoken out against South Wales Police, alleging a lack of investigative action following her partner’s death during a contentious dispute over land access. Kerry Bishop has endured over a year of frustration seeking answers about the events that led to Stephen Habberley’s fatal cardiac arrest, which she believes were not given the attention they warranted by authorities.
Stephen Habberley, 64, died in January last year after collapsing outside his Abercynon property amid a heated disagreement with builders over access to rented land. According to Ms Bishop, Mr Habberley became deeply distressed during the argument, which had erupted when workers attempted to bring vehicles across land he had leased from landlord Anthony Goodall, prompting Mr Habberley to try and block their entry using his campervan.
The situation reportedly escalated, becoming increasingly fraught as Mr Habberley attempted to intervene physically, but instead fell victim to a sudden cardiac arrest before he could start his vehicle. He was swiftly taken to hospital, but despite the efforts of Ms Bishop and a neighbour to revive him, Mr Habberley died three days later at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. Doctors reportedly cautioned that, had he survived, he would likely have suffered severe brain damage due to the incident.
Disputes regarding land access were said not to be new, with neighbours—including the Keys Group, which runs a children and family support organisation on adjacent land—having had multiple confrontations with Mr Habberley prior to the tragic day. The Keys Group maintain that legal right of way allowed them access for essential maintenance, particularly as parts of the lane required upgrades for safe vehicle passage. Mr Goodall, the landlord, owned parts of both the access lane and the property’s frontage but reportedly had not formally approved the works at the time.
Recalling the events, Ms Bishop described how matters came to a head when builders arrived with a skip lorry, insisting Mr Habberley move his car. According to her account, when questioned about the nature of the proposed works, the workers said only that they had been sent to carry out instructions from the Keys Group. She alleges that neither her partner nor the landlord provided permission for their activity, and after initial attempts to block access verbally, Mr Habberley’s resolve led him to more direct action on the vehicles. The standoff, she claimed, lasted more than half an hour.
Notably, during the protracted dispute, Mr Habberley contacted police for assistance, only to be told that the issue was considered a civil matter, not warranting police intervention. Feeling abandoned by the authorities, Mr Habberley indicated he would handle the matter himself; it was shortly after this declaration that he suffered his fatal cardiac event.
Following his death, Ms Bishop says she tirelessly pursued answers, lodging formal complaints with South Wales Police, appealing to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), and seeking help from her local MP. Despite her efforts, Ms Bishop claims she received little more than generic responses, with no witnesses interviewed and no significant investigation launched. This has left her in limbo, unable to move forward either personally or legally, and she has decried what she views as a “blatant failure in duty of care”.
South Wales Police have consistently declined to comment on the case, reiterating only that it is viewed as a civil dispute. This stance has continued to infuriate Ms Bishop, who states that more than fourteen months on from her partner’s death, she remains without closure or justice, describing the lack of police engagement as “no accountability, and no justice”.
In a statement following the death, the Keys Group stressed their sadness at the passing of their neighbour, offering their “thoughts and best wishes” to Mr Habberley’s family, and explaining that works in the area had been suspended as a mark of respect.
The case raises broader questions about the distinction between civil and criminal matters, and how police balance their duties in conflicts surrounding property and land rights. For Ms Bishop, however, the lack of investigation continues to compound the pain of her loss, leaving an enduring sense of frustration and unresolved grief.