North Wales Police warn “witness intimidation is an extremely serious offence” after online reaction to dangerous driving sentencing

North Wales Police have taken the unusual step of issuing a wide ranging statement reminding the public of the perils of ‘witness intimidation’ and posting of ‘inaccurate or derogatory statements’ online.

31-year-old Heidi Dunt of Trem Eryri, Menai Bridge pleaded guilty to dangerous driving charges following the collision which happened on the A5025 near Pentraeth on Anglesey just after 9pm on June 4th last year. At Caernarfon Crown Court on Thursday, Dunt was sentenced to 18 months in prison and disqualified from driving for three years and nine months. She will also have to do an extended retest.

North Wales police have issued a lengthy statement this afternoon in relation to the sentencing of Dunt, it reads:

“We fully understand that feelings are running high in the community with regards to the custodial sentence that she received.

However, we are aware of photographs that were taken at the scene on the night of the collision are being shared widely across social media. We’d like to make it clear that the people in the photograph were not directly involved in the collision.

We are reminding individuals that witness intimidation is an extremely serious offence which could result in an arrest and charge.

In the Magistrates’ Court, the maximum penalty for witness intimidation is six months’ imprisonment and/or a fine to the statutory maximum. In the Crown Court, the maximum penalty is five years’ imprisonment and/or a fine.

We would also like to stress that North Wales Police fully investigated the collision. This was then passed to the Crown Prosecution Service for them to present, and the Court, after being given the full facts of the case and any mitigation, decided on the sentence that was given.

We are also aware of the clear inaccuracies in comments made by several on social media with regards to the road surface. We can confirm that skid testing was done on the night of the collision which established that there was no oil on the road surface.

In this case the defendant pleaded guilty to both offences of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Individuals should also be careful not to post defamatory, inaccurate or derogatory statements and that comments will be closely monitored.”