Probation service monitoring murdered teen's attacker was 'overstretched', inquest hears
An inquest into the death of a teenager who was murdered by a criminal out on licence has heard the probation service monitoring his attacker was "overstretched".
Conner Marshall, 18, was beaten to death after being mistaken for a love rival by David Braddon, who was being supervised in the community after being convicted of assaulting a police officer and drug offences.
Probation service officer Kathryn Oakley told the inquest in Pontypridd that at the time of Conner's murder in 2015, she was supervising Braddon as one of around 60 other cases.
Ms Oakley's job in the Wales Community Rehabilitation Company was to access and manage medium to low risk offenders in the community, whether providing drug and alcohol services or managing curfews.
During questioning, Ms Oakley described a work environment that was overwhelming and overstretched.
Getting emotional in the witness box, she said, "I was working in a difficult work environment, dealing with 60 cases. Sometimes seeing 15-20 people a day. I often didn't have time for a lunch break and I often worked until midnight. I did the best I could in a tough working environment."
When asked about her assessment of David Braddon, Kathryn Oakley told the court she did not deem him a complex case. She said: "He had a gap in offending from 2010-2014. He had contact with his three children. His drug use was sporadic although he did binge drink."
She added: "I couldn't have predicted he would have gone onto murder Conner. I've supervised more serious offenders than David Braddon who haven't gone onto murder".
Altogether David Braddon missed eight probation appointments. Ms Oakley told the court those absences were for medical reasons and GP notes were given for them so she had no reason to question them.
The lawyer representing Conner Marshall's family, Kirsten Heaven, put to her that "the main problem was you did not raise this case to senior managers, given his disengagement".
Ms Oakley replied: "In an ideal world I would have, but given the environment I was working in, the volume of cases I was dealing with, I couldn't keep tabs on everything."
The court also heard Ms Oakley had previously stated that if an offender breached their probation and returned to prison, the Community Rehabilitation Company would lose money as a result of that.
Ms Heaven put Ms Oakley's statement to her, which read: "At the time we were encouraged by managers not to bring proceedings unless it was absolutely necessary because the company was paid by results and lost money if an offender was recalled to prison or breached. We were encouraged to give chances as much as possible and called to encourage engagement rather than enforcement."
When questioned on whether this was the case, Ms Oakley said: "I think that was an error, that was my perception at the time, but we were encouraged to engage rather than enforce."
Conner Marshall had been at Trecco Bay caravan park in Porthcawl with friends when, in the early hours of March 8th 2015, he wandered alone into the path of Braddon, who had consumed valium, cocaine and alcohol.
Braddon believed Mr Marshall was his ex-girlfriend's former partner, and attacked him with a metal pole and kicked him in the face and ribs.
After stamping on Mr Marshall's face and stripping him naked, Braddon fled the scene.
Mr Marshall was discovered by another holidaymaker, who raised the alarm.
He was rushed to hospital and died in the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, on March 12th 2015.
Braddon pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life with a 20-year minimum term.
The inquest continues.