David Braddon, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 20 years for killing Conner Marshall in 2015, will serve an extra three years and seven months for further crimes committed behind bars. The 38-year-old admitted using a mobile phone in prison to direct three women to move tens of thousands of pounds between bank accounts.
Braddon was already serving a life sentence for murdering 18-year-old Conner Marshall, from Barry, at Trecco Bay caravan park in Porthcawl, Bridgend, on 8 March 2015. Cardiff Crown Court heard that the later offending involved more than £50,000 in total, with individual transactions ranging from £4 to £4,175.
The women involved were Braddon’s mother Karen Graham, 57, his former partner Gemma Phillips, 41, and former probationary prison officer Claire Jones, 38. The money was moved between bank accounts belonging to 59 people, including relatives of 32 prisoners at HMPs Parc, Eastwood Park, Hewell and Oakwood.
How did the prison offences come to light?
The offences came to light after a prison officer at HMP Parc received a message on Facebook telling him to go to a specific cell to meet an inmate. He refused to comply and reported the matter to prison authorities and police.
Jones was later arrested and her phone was seized, with investigators finding the messages. She admitted setting up a Monzo bank account which was used, in effect, to launder money, but said she felt
“under pressure”to engage in Braddon’s activities.
What was the impact on Conner Marshall’s family?
Conner’s mother, Nadine Marshall, said she only found out about Braddon’s further offending when she read a news article. Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke allowed Nadine to read a personal statement to the court about the impact on her, even though she was not directly a victim of the offences.
The judge said the crimes were committed by Braddon while he was serving a sentence for a crime in which Nadine was a victim. Conner Marshall was beaten to death by David Braddon in 2015.
Nadine fought back tears as she read her statement.
“My stomach dropped,”she said, adding:
“I had butterflies and felt nauseous, and had flashbacks of my son in the neck brace.”
She said the news left her upset and immediately fearful, and that Braddon’s police custody photo brought back painful memories.
“That picture of him was 11 years ago when he murdered my son, and all of those horrific memories came flooding back.”
Nadine also said she was on medication after being diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She said that on the morning she saw the news she
“went through every emotion possible... from shock, emotional distress, tearful, vulnerable, anxious to being angry”.
Braddon shouted from the dock:
“I'm sorry. I truly am sorry. I am.”
What sentences did the court hand down?
Lloyd-Clarke sentenced Braddon to three years and seven months for possessing a phone in prison and for the acquisition, use or control of criminal property, namely money. She told him that the sentence would be added to the end of the minimum term he was already serving.
Jones and Griffiths were both sentenced to two years and nine months for their roles in Braddon’s crimes. Graham was given a sentence of one year and six months suspended for two years, and will have to carry out 20 days of rehabilitation.
Key Facts
- David Braddon was jailed for life with a minimum term of 20 years for murdering 18-year-old Conner Marshall on 8 March 2015.
- He admitted having a mobile phone in prison and directing three women to move more than £50,000 between accounts.
- The women were Karen Graham, Gemma Phillips and Claire Jones.
- The money moved between accounts belonging to 59 people, including relatives of 32 prisoners at HMPs Parc, Eastwood Park, Hewell and Oakwood.
- Braddon received an extra three years and seven months, to be served after his existing minimum term.
