**Cardiff Man Sentenced for Vicious Campaign Against Ex-Partner**
A woman from Cardiff has spoken of her fear and distress after being subjected to a persistent and threatening campaign by her former partner, who not only vandalised her car but also launched a torrent of hostile messages aimed at intimidating her. The disturbing sequence of events ended in Cardiff Crown Court, where Steven Driscoll, aged 57, received a community order following a sustained pattern of malicious behaviour.
The court heard that Driscoll’s conduct escalated following the end of his six-year relationship with the woman in 2022. Despite the passage of time, unresolved anger led Driscoll to harass his former partner in a campaign described by prosecutors as both frightening and damaging. The case brings renewed attention to how victims suffer long after the legal end of a relationship, particularly in the digital age.
A significant aspect of Driscoll’s strategy was the use of messages and social media threats, which the court was told left the victim feeling “terrified” and deeply vulnerable. In a particularly alarming twist, Driscoll sent a voice recording of a prior argument between him and his ex-partner to one of her friends. The recording, in which the woman was heard admitting certain “wrongdoings” (later explained as an attempt to keep the peace), became a weapon in his campaign, with threats to publicise the audio and paint her negatively online.
Prosecutor Emma Harris outlined in court how Driscoll’s actions were calculated to maximise distress. He reportedly threatened to expose details about the woman’s private life, including “fabricated behaviour” and claims concerning alleged “sexual favours”. The victim, upon realising she had been recorded and that such personal admissions might become public, described herself as “extremely upset” and anxious for her reputation.
Matters worsened on 5 November 2023, when Driscoll appeared outside the woman’s home, escalating from digital threats to physical damage. According to evidence presented, he threw a garden ornament at her window, resulting in both the ornament and the window sill being damaged. Later, it emerged that Driscoll had caused further harm by using a key to scratch the woman’s vehicle, with the cost of repairs estimated at around £2,000.
The barrage of aggressive and intimidating messages persisted over a three-week period. Driscoll’s threats became increasingly severe, warning the woman and her acquaintances that if she did not contact him, he would ensure that her “world is going to fall apart.” He suggested he would destroy her professional and personal life, with chilling assertions she would “lose her job and her house” if his demands were not met.
Upon his arrest, Driscoll admitted charges of malicious communications as well as criminal damage. The court was informed that he had a prior history of offending, including 16 previous convictions, most recently in 2018 for driving infractions.
Presiding Judge Daniel Williams handed Driscoll an 18-month community order in recognition of the sustained harassment. In addition, Driscoll was ordered to complete 30 days of rehabilitation activities, observe a 90-day curfew, and adhere to a three-year restraining order intended to protect his former partner. He was also directed to pay £500 in costs.
The case, which has attracted significant local interest, underscores the impact such harassment can have on victims. Legal experts and domestic abuse charities continue to highlight how digital abuse and threats of reputational harm can become tools of control, inflicting emotional damage that is every bit as real as physical harm.
With the court’s ruling, the hope is that the victim may now begin to recover from her ordeal, while Driscoll faces a path of rehabilitation as mandated by the judicial process. The matter serves as a sobering reminder of the need for continued vigilance and support for those experiencing post-relationship harassment in all its forms.