In a stunning admission of failure, a British police force has confessed to committing a series of catastrophic errors that potentially crippled a rape investigation. South Wales Police inadvertently alerted a firefighter accused of rape, giving him the opportunity to permanently delete crucial evidence from his mobile phone before his arrest.
The profound blunder emerged during a hearing at Cardiff Crown Court concerning firefighter David Henderson. The 41-year-old, based at Cardiff Central fire station, faces allegations of raping and assaulting his ex-partner.
A Cascade of Police Failures
The court heard how officers made the initial mistake of contacting Henderson's employer, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, to verify his work schedule before arresting him. This action effectively tipped him off about the impending investigation.
Seizing the opportunity, Henderson then allegedly used WhatsApp's 'disappearing messages' function to wipe incriminating data. Astonishingly, when police finally arrived at the fire station to arrest him, they permitted him to use his phone unsupervised in another room, allowing him to delete even more evidence.
Prosecutor Roger Griffiths stated: "The investigation has been hampered... the police have accepted they made errors in the way they dealt with the initial arrest and the opportunities he had to delete material."
Victim's Family Condemns 'Dangerous Incompetence'
The family of the alleged victim has expressed their fury and devastation. In a powerful statement, they condemned the "dangerous level of incompetence" displayed by the force, which they fear has severely jeopardised the case.
"We are utterly appalled," the family said. "The grossly negligent actions... have caused further unimaginable distress to our family and [the victim]. We now have serious concerns about the integrity of the entire investigation."
They are now calling for a full, independent investigation into South Wales Police's handling of the case to ensure such a disastrous sequence of events is never repeated.
Force Admits 'Lessons Must Be Learned'
In a humbling statement, Assistant Chief Constable Danny Richards of South Wales Police offered an "unreserved apology" to the victim. He confirmed the force had self-referred its conduct to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and that "lessons must be learned" from the grave mistakes made.
David Henderson has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and one count of assault by beating. The trial continues as the court grapples with an investigation fundamentally compromised by the very authorities tasked with upholding justice.
