Crime

Former soldier’s ‘shameful’ fraud over WWII medals to pay gambling debts

Published

8 months ago

October 16, 2025

Judge says ex-serviceman ‘tarnished the memory of brave men’ in decade-long scam

A FORMER soldier who faked family links to Second World War heroes to claim their medals and sell them off to cover gambling debts has been branded “shameful and disgraceful” by a judge.

David Stewart, aged sixty-one, of Castell Corwg, Cilgerran, admitted twenty-one counts of fraud by false representation after a ten-year deception targeting the Ministry of Defence Medal Office.

Swansea Crown Court heard Stewart made a series of false applications between 2012 and 2022, claiming medals on behalf of sixteen deceased servicemen. He often pretended to be their next of kin, sometimes producing forged documents to back up his claims.

Prosecutor Craig Jones said that a genealogical investigation later revealed Stewart was, at best, a distant relative to a few of the men — and in several cases had no link at all.

Even after being warned that any further requests from his address would be referred to the MoD’s fraud team, Stewart persisted. In many cases, officials refused to issue medals because suspicions had already been raised or they had already been sent to the rightful families.

In early 2022, Stewart contacted the owner of specialist dealer Medals of England and offered to sell several decorations, including those awarded to Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot Jiri Machacek, complete with fake issue papers. The collector paid him £6,470, most of which was for Machacek’s medals, and later sent an additional £200.

When the fraud was exposed, Stewart was forced to repay £9,800 to the buyer.

A search of his home in March 2023 uncovered a book listing details of men who fought in the Battle of Britain. Mr Jones said this was “the tool he used to identify targets for his devious scheme.”

The court was told that Stewart, a veteran himself, had served in Northern Ireland and the Gulf War but had fallen into serious gambling debt before turning to fraud.

Hannah George, defending, said: “He found himself in an extremely poor financial position. Because of his own involvement in the military, he is acutely aware of the impact of his actions and feels a great deal of shame.”

Judge Huw Rees told Stewart: “This was tantamount to desecrating the memory of brave servicemen. As a former soldier, you knew exactly what these decorations represented. Your behaviour was truly shameful and disgraceful.”

Stewart was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 15 rehabilitation activity days. He must also pay £10,000 in compensation to the collector.

Crime

Spittal man to stand trial accused of ABH

Published

1 day ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

A SPITTAL man is to stand trial accused of assaulting a man and causing actual bodily harm.

Robert Hedley, 41, of Wesley Way, Spittal, Haverfordwest, is charged with assaulting Liam Morley-Trivett at St Clears on August 30, 2025.

The case was before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jun 18).

Hedley was granted unconditional bail and is due to stand trial at the same court on Monday, June 29.

The trial is listed for 10:00am and has been given a time estimate of twenty minutes.

Crime

Milford Haven woman spared jail despite string of shop thefts

Published

1 day ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Repeat offender stole from Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and petrol stations in wave of offences

A MILFORD HAVEN woman who admitted a series of shop thefts committed over a matter of weeks has been handed a suspended prison sentence by magistrates.

Marion Picton, aged 46, of Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 18) and pleaded guilty to eight theft offences and a drugs-related offence.

The court heard that Picton carried out a string of thefts at stores across Milford Haven between April and June this year.

Among the offences, Picton admitted stealing meat from Food Warehouse on Apr 23, food worth £60 from Victoria Filling Station on May 29, groceries from Home Bargains on Jun 7 and Jun 8, food from Victoria Filling Station on Jun 7 and Jun 9, groceries and non-food items worth £51.09 from Tesco on Jun 16, and food worth £32.50 from Food Warehouse on the same day.

She also admitted failing to attend an initial drugs assessment after testing positive for Class A drugs, including cocaine and opiates.

Magistrates were told the offences represented persistent repeat offending and had been committed while Picton was already subject to a court order.

The bench imposed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

As part of the order, Picton must complete up to 15 rehabilitation activity days under the supervision of the Probation Service.

The court ordered her to pay compensation to several of the businesses affected, including Tesco, Home Bargains, Food Warehouse and Victoria Filling Station.

In sentencing, magistrates said the offences were serious enough to justify immediate custody but suspended the sentence because there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and Picton appeared motivated to address her addiction issues.

Picton was warned that any further offending during the 18-month suspension period could see the prison sentence activated.