A woman who made false allegations that a father and grandmother were planning to drug children and take them away from their mother has been sentenced. Charlotte Griffiths, 33, of Pen y Darren Close, Graigwen, Pontypridd, pleaded guilty to two counts of perverting the course of justice at Cardiff Crown Court.
False Reports to Police and Social Services
On October 7, 2024, Griffiths posed as a neighbour of her victims when she contacted social services. She claimed she had overheard the grandmother saying she would drug her grandchildren and take them from their mother. She also alleged the children's father was mentally unwell and had been arrested. Later, she used a friend's phone to call 101 and repeat the same allegations to the police.
On October 13, 2024, Griffiths contacted a friend claiming she had been struck on the head. The friend visited her home and she repeated the assault claim. The friend called police, and Griffiths was taken to Royal Glamorgan Hospital, but doctors found no injuries. She later showed police images of injuries that clearly belonged to a different person with different hair and eye colours.
Victim Impact
In a victim personal statement read to the court, the father said he felt 'shock and disbelief' and feared being arrested for crimes he did not commit. He described the emotional toll as 'entirely overwhelming' and said he struggled to sleep and relived events in his mind. The grandmother said she was 'in complete shock' and terrified of being arrested. She suffered panic attacks and said her family had lived through 'absolute hell' over the past three years, with repeated police and social services involvement.
Sentencing
Prosecutor Tabitha Walker outlined the case, noting that Griffiths maintained the allegations were true even after her arrest on November 5, 2025. Defence barrister Harry Baker said Griffiths had a difficult childhood and was not undergoing therapy, but could be rehabilitated in the community. Judge Eugene Egan described her behaviour as 'shameful' and said false reports cause enormous problems and undermine genuine complaints. Griffiths was sentenced to 60 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 21 months. She must complete 26 sessions of an accredited programme, a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement, 200 hours unpaid work, pay £1,000 in costs, and comply with two restraining orders for 10 years.
