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Wales Online
24-05-2025
- Wales Online
My son was brutally murdered by a man on probation which is why government's early release scheme scares me
My son was brutally murdered by a man on probation which is why government's early release scheme scares me Conner Marshall was murdered by David Braddon at Trecco Bay caravan park in Porthcawl, when the killer was on parole for drug offences and assaulting a police officer. Conner Marshall was only 18 when he was murdered (Image: Family photograph ) The mother of a teenager who was brutally beaten to death by a thug on probation at a Welsh caravan park has raised concerns about plans to ease prison overcrowding by releasing some offenders early. Nadine Marshall says "problems are going to be magnified" if the scheme is brought to fruition. Her son Conner was murdered by David Braddon at Trecco Bay caravan park in Porthcawl in March 2015, in a case of mistaken identity. The 18-year-old, from Barry, subsequently died in hospital after suffering catastrophic injuries including brain swelling. Killer Braddon, 36, from Caerphilly and now aged 31, was on probation for drugs offences and assaulting a police officer at the time of the fatal attack. He also had previous convictions for domestic abuse. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter. David James Braddon (Image: South Wales Police ) Conner's mother Nadine Marshall has expressed her reservations about plans in Wales and England to reduce prison overcrowding by allowing some prisoners to be eligible for early release after serving a third of their sentence. Reforms announced by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood could see offenders on early release tagged and made subject to home detention, leading to further strain on the probation service. Article continues below Speaking to the BBC, Mrs Marshall said: "The problems are going to be magnified because the system isn't fit for purpose as it is." Conner Marshall with his mum and dad, Nadine, middle, and Richard, right (Image: Richard Swingler ) The Ministry of Justice said the UK Government would reserve £700m to resource "intensive supervision" or released prisoners by the Probation Service. Mrs Marshall said: "The problems are going to be magnified because the system isn't fit for purpose as it is. That money is just going to plug holes. "The staffing isn't there, the processes aren't there, the systems aren't there for probation to actively be able to deal with the workload they have." An MOJ spokesperson said: "Our thoughts remain with the victims of these horrific crimes and their families. Nadine Marshall (Image: Plaid Cymru ) "A 45% uplift in funding for the service will allow us to tag and monitor tens of thousands more offenders in the community. And we are on track to have recruited 2,300 probation officers by March next year." Ian Lawrence, general secretary of the National Association of Probation Officers, told Newyddion S4C: "We have long been saying if the prison system is full and it is, so is probation. Article continues below "Can the probation service cope with what will be a new cohort of early releases in Spring next year once this is all enacted? Not at the current rate of progress. "We currently have a system where staff are working massive hours under massive pressure just to cope with what I would call business as usual."
BBC News
23-05-2025
- BBC News
Mother of murdered teen Conner Marshall fears justice reforms
A mother whose teenage son was murdered by a convicted offender on probation says she fears proposed changes to the justice Marshall, 18, of Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, was beaten to death by David Braddon in March 2015 in a case of mistaken plans to deal with prison overcrowding would see more prisoners in Wales and England, including some serious offenders, eligible for early release after serving a third of their Marshall's mother, Nadine Marshall, is concerned reforms announced by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, including increased use tagging and home detention, will put even more strain on the probation service "The problems are going to be magnified because the system isn't fit for purpose as it is," she Ministry of Justice (MOJ) said the UK government inherited a criminal justice system "in crisis" but would include £700 million to fund "intensive supervision" of released prisoners by the Probation Marshall responded: "I'm not confident in the slightest."That money is just going to plug holes. "The staffing isn't there, the processes aren't there, the systems aren't there for probation to actively be able to deal with the workload they have." Mr Marshall was killed at Trecco Bay caravan park in Porthcawl, Bridgend county, in a drink and drug-fuelled the time, Braddon, 26, of Caerphilly, was subject to two community orders following his conviction for drug offences and assaulting a police officer, but was classified as a low-risk was among 244 criminals on probation who were charged with murder in Wales and England between January 2020 and March 2024 - an average of one a week - according to statistics shared with BBC Wales-produced Newyddion the inquest into Mr Marshall's death, the coroner heavily criticised the Probation Service, particularly the "woefully inadequate" management of Braddon's inexperienced new case MOJ spokesperson said: "Our thoughts remain with the victims of these horrific crimes and their families."A 45% uplift in funding for the service will allow us to tag and monitor tens of thousands more offenders in the community. And we are on track to have recruited 2,300 probation officers by March next year." But an independent sentencing review has suggested wider use of probation services and the third sector in managing offenders after release from was carried out by the former Conservative Lord Chancellor David Gauke after prisons across Wales and England almost reached capacity last acknowledged the probation service is also currently "under great strain".Mahmood told the Commons on Thursday she accepted most of the proposals but stopped short of allowing the most serious offenders from being released early and said nobody jailed for terror offences would be eligible. Between July 2024 and March 2025, the UK government recruited 1,000 probation officers and has set a target of recruiting a further 1,300 this financial year Association of Probation Officers broadly supports the government announcement but warned proper investment must accompany the burden on staff."We have long been saying if the prison system is full and it is, so is probation," general secretary Ian Lawrence told Newyddion S4C."Can the probation service cope with what will be a new cohort of early releases in Spring next year once this is all enacted? Not at the current rate of progress."We currently have a system where staff are working massive hours under massive pressure just to cope with what I would call business as usual."
