RODNEY SHEPHERD FROM LLANDAFF NORTH SENTENCED AFTER VIOLENT ATTACKS IN CARDIFF

Rodney Shepherd, a resident of Llandaff North and known for his troubling history of violence towards women, has been handed a significant prison sentence following a series of brutal assaults. The incident that led to his conviction took place in February 2010, when Shepherd was found to have physically attacked his partner multiple times, prompting a court to intervene and impose justice.

Cardiff Crown Court heard detailed accounts of Shepherd’s criminal past, which is marked by a disturbing pattern of violence against women. Shepherd, aged 42 and living on Hazelhurst Road in Llandaff North, has accumulated a total of seven convictions related to violence against women, alongside two convictions for property damage. His criminal record also includes a 12-month suspended sentence and an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO), both stemming from an incident in 2009 involving an altercation over land and property development. During that dispute, Shepherd reportedly pushed, dragged, and physically assaulted his partner, including pushing her face and kicking her.

The court was informed that the violent behavior persisted into 2010. On a particular day, police responded to a call and found Shepherd’s partner, Tracey Wheelan, at his home. Following a silent 999 emergency call, officers arrived to discover Shepherd had called her a “whore” and had assaulted her in a drunken rage. Witnesses reported that Shepherd dragged her across the hall and dropped her onto the floor, further assaulting her during the incident. The violence did not end there; approximately a month later, Shepherd attacked her again, inflicting injuries that caused her to bleed by hitting and kicking her in the face. On another occasion, fueled by alcohol and emotional distress, Shepherd bit her on the cheek after a series of aggressive outbursts.

The court heard that Shepherd’s actions appeared to stem from a relationship that had devolved from mutual attraction into mutual destruction. His repeated offenses and breach of previous court orders demonstrated a pattern of disregard for the law and the safety of his partner. Shepherd was convicted of these offenses and sentenced to 70 weeks in prison. Judge Christopher Vosper QC emphasized the seriousness of Shepherd’s violent history, highlighting that women repeatedly appeared in his criminal record and that he had failed to adhere to previous suspended sentences.

During the proceedings, Shepherd’s legal team expressed remorse, with his representatives stating that he was “disgusted with himself” and intended to seek help through a domestic abuse program. Despite this, the judge concluded that the gravity of Shepherd’s actions warranted immediate detention. As a result, Shepherd was sentenced to serve a total of 70 weeks behind bars, reflecting the court’s stance on the importance of protecting victims and upholding justice in cases of domestic violence.