Dad says he has no choice but to 'wash his hands' of his drug user Talycopa son
A FATHER whose son has become paranoid through drug use has said he has no choice but to "wash his hands" of the 27-year-old.
Andrew Llewelyn, of Tegfan, Talycopa, thought police had installed CCTV cameras in his father's Llansamlet home and were monitoring his activities.
-
He then went on to cut wires to his father's fire and his boiler.
Prosecutor Linda Baker told city magistrates that between July and December his father, David Llewelyn, had made 14 calls to police about his son's "abusive and threatening" behaviour, including six calls in December alone.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
Mrs Baker said Llewelyn's nine-year drug habit and alcohol abuse had made him paranoid.
During the first incident on December 21, his father said Llewelyn was behaving "strangely" and after he explained there were no cameras in the house his son then punched and damaged two doors and two stair spindles.
Two days later his father returned home and found his son inside the house, despite him having earlier thrown him out.
He then admitted he had cut the wires in his property.
"When his father challenged him, he (Llewelyn) admitted he had cut them because he believed CCTV cameras were monitoring him," he said.
Llewelyn admitted two charges of criminal damage.
In a statement by him read to the court, Mr Llewelyn senior said: "He is my son and I love him but I can't cope with his unreasonable behaviour. I have no choice but to wash my hands of him. It's about time he stood up on his own two feet and provided for himself," he said.
Steve Burnell, representing Llewelyn, said: "I do have some sympathy for his father and the situation. He wants his son to get some help — as most parents would."
A report was prepared by probation officer Fred Matthews.
Llewelyn told Mr Matthews he had been taking amphetamines daily for three months and washing them down with lager.
"He now realises that the paranoia has reached a new level," said Mr Matthews.
Magistrates told Llewelyn he would have to complete a 12-month community order including 12 months' supervision as well as a nine-month alcohol treatment programme.
Llewelyn was ordered to pay £125 in compensation as well as a £60 victim surcharge.
Following the case, Ifor Glyn, chief executive of Swansea Drugs Project, said: "Amphetamines are probably one of the most well documented for psychosis. It is a stimulant, so people can start to hallucinate.
"We are here for people experiencing such problems. If someone has serious mental health problems, we can liaise with colleagues in the health service.
"Family and friends have to live with people taking drugs, and we have an informal group for carers every Thursday."
Comments
by White_Rock
Friday, January 11 2013, 7:33AM
“The Dad's responsibility for the son ends at the age of 18. The sons responsibility for himself starts at the same age.
Only one of them is to blame here.”
by doggirl125
Thursday, January 10 2013, 11:29PM
“.”
by ILoveMichu
Thursday, January 10 2013, 11:02PM
“If I was not so smart the median intelligence of this website would be rather low...”
by Dai_Chotomy
Thursday, January 10 2013, 9:45PM
“nice_nails, I have "been in this situation". I stood by him. He is much better now. It wasn't a difficult thing to do, I love him you see.”
by Philosoraptor
Thursday, January 10 2013, 9:39PM
“Now it's my time to shine. Meh.”
by nice_nails
Thursday, January 10 2013, 4:43PM
“Hopefully these two muppets up on their high horse will never be in the situation the bloke was, How can you possibly have a dig at this bloke after reading a few paragraphs in a rag, you sad people.”
by Ginnyy
Thursday, January 10 2013, 4:21PM
“Dai_Chotomy and Neathboy234 - I've just 'green arrowed' both of your last comments and it's reduced your red ones, not shown a green one each (which I think is daft, it should show green). I can only think that this dad has reached the end of his tether and can no longer cope, though I don't see the need for it to be published in the newspaper for everyone to read about. Being a parent myself I could never see myself reaching such a level and abandoning my child, having said that none of us know what he is going through. A child is for life, not just for the good times!”
by Neathboy234
Thursday, January 10 2013, 2:25PM
“Dai_Chotomy we've both got a lot of red arrows, perhaps it's just the world that we live in where people think a parents responsibility towards a child ends when they reach 18(who knows in some peoples eyes it might even be aged 12 or 13 when they are old enough to roam the streets)”
by Dai_Chotomy
Thursday, January 10 2013, 1:31PM
“Dear me, red arrows for having the audacity to suggest that a man's responsibility to his children should be one of the most important privileges that a man can have.
I fail to see how anyone can desert a son when he is ill.”
by Neathboy234
Thursday, January 10 2013, 12:50PM
“That's the thing when you have children they are always your responsibility, no matter how they turn out. I would never wash my hands with my children, no more than i would with one of my many pets”