“I can’t do five years. I want to see you. I want to see the dog.” These were the desperate words of Damien Kelly, who found himself behind bars after attempting to sway his partner not to support a case against him.
Kelly, from Prestatyn, was initially facing charges of controlling behaviour, but the prosecution was dropped. However, he couldn’t stay out of trouble, breaching bail conditions and ending up in HMP Berwyn. In a bold move, he used another inmate’s phone to call Tracey Blades, urging her to dodge any summons by checking into a hotel and switching off her phone.
Prosecutor Emmalyne Downing laid the facts bare in court, sharing how Kelly assured Blades she’d only face a fine, downplaying his own significant legal consequences, which included the potential for a five-year sentence. Despite his efforts, and him pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice, Judge Rhys Rowlands wasn’t swayed by his pleas, branding Kelly “a manipulative individual” and handing him a 30-month sentence.
It’s a story that highlights the lengths some will go to in order to evade justice—and the serious repercussions that can follow. Keep up with the latest updates on local crime news and find out about the latest issues affecting your area.