Melfi-Wroe: Jailed for 27 months
A paralegal jailed after bombarding his ex-partner with threats, including claims he would “destroy” her life, has been banned from the legal profession.
Richard Melfi-Wroe worked at leading defendant law firm Keoghs from May 2021 until October 2024 and has now been made subject to a disqualification order under section 99 of the Legal Services Act 2007.
Last year, he was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to two counts of witness intimidation. He was also made subject to a 20-year restraining order.
The judge ordered one count of stalking and one count of harassment to lie on file.
Cambridgeshire Police said that Melfi-Wroe, 32 at the time of his conviction, had been ordered not to contact the victim after he had been arrested for a string of offences against her in June 2024.
But “he deluged her with violent and aggressive messages and calls, vowing to ‘take everything’ from her, starting with her dog and then her home”.
Among the many threats to destroy her life, he also said he hoped her loved ones were “ready for what happens next”, adding: “It’s on you.”
He also sent the victim’s partner abusive messages on Facebook, making references to his children and his home address, and threatened “What will happen, will happen”, if he didn’t respond by a certain date. Melfi-Wroe threatened to break every bone in his face as well.
In another message to the victim, Melfi-Wroe bragged he had become “cold, calculated and without empathy” as he had nothing left to lose.
He acknowledged he was breaking his bail conditions but told the victim he was “looking forward” to getting arrested again.
DC Emma Cooke, who investigated, said: “Melfi-Wroe’s abusive behaviour left the victim feeling overwhelmed and distressed due to his persistent, unwanted contact. It had a detrimental effect on her wellbeing, to the point where she wasn’t sure if she could support the investigation.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the victim for her courage and resilience. I hope this sentencing provides her with some sort of closure.”
Melfi-Wroe was disqualified from the profession and directed to pay costs of £1,350.