A war veteran who put racist comments online had been battling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a court heard. Daffron Williams has pleaded guilty to publishing Facebook posts to stir up racial hatred around the time of riots following the Southport killings. Williams, of Jones Street in Clydach Vale, Tonypandy, wrote a series of posts between July 19 and August 11 which breached the Public Order Act.
The ex-soldier, who turned 41 on Wednesday while remanded in custody, was due to be sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Friday but his solicitor John Allchurch applied for a psychiatric assessment of his client. Mr Allchurch told the court that Williams joined the Royal Regiment of Wales in 2004 and served for seven years, including two tours of duty in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.
“He was a lance corporal responsible for four to eight men,” said Mr Allchurch. “These were active soldiers responsible for firefights with the enemy. He saw many losses and six of his close friends were killed. The defendant was responsible for putting those bodies and body parts in bags. As a result he was diagnosed with PTSD.
He tells me it has left him with dreams, nightmares, flashbacks and anger, particularly during Covid which was a bad time for him. He has been having therapy with Veterans NHS Wales.” In light of the mental health issues, Mr Allchurch called for a psychiatric report. Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke asked whether Williams was medicated and receiving treatment from a clinician.
Mr Allchurch walked to the dock to get instructions from his client, who said: “I started therapy last week, a few days before I was arrested.” He also confirmed he was medicated. The judge adjourned to October 9 for a psychiatric report to be written. “You clearly have some fairly serious mental health issues,” she told Williams, but she advised him not to “read anything” into her decision to allow a report. “I’m sure you’ve been advised that these sorts of offences inevitably carry an immediate custodial sentence.”
As he left the dock Williams gave a salute to a dozen or so people supporting him in the public gallery, who said “love you” and “ta-ra butt” as he was led away. He will stay remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing. Riots broke out in towns and cities across England after three young girls were killed in Southport on July 29. Cardiff-born 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana has been charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder in connection to the mass stabbing.