News

Milford Haven: Gambling addict jailed for stealing £20k from elderly mother

Published

11 years ago

March 27, 2015

swansea A GAMBLING addict from Milford Haven who stole more than £20,000 from his elderly mother and even sold her jewellery was jailed for 14 months on Friday (Mar 27).

Richard Keith Lightfoot, aged 53, of Fettle Court, Victoria Road, admitted two offences of fraud and one of theft.

Gwilym Roberts-Harry, prosecuting, told Swansea crown court that Lightfoot had been the carer for his 84 year old mother Rosina.

Despite her giving him money from time to time he began to use her bank account to write cheques to himself, and hid her statements under his bed mattress to stop her from finding out.

He got away with £13,950, and an additional £8,021 by using her debit card to gamble, order Chinese takeaways and to buy mobile telephones and clothes.

Lightfoot also used her bank details to order £2,370 worth of clothing from a catalogue firm.

Mr Roberts-Harry said Lightfoot also stole gold rings and chains belonging to his mother and sold them for cash.

He said the offending came to light after his sister, Sally Jones, became suspicious when Lightfoot insisted his mother cash in a life insurance policy to pay for some storm damage to her home, instead of using money she should have had in her bank account.

It was also discovered that Lightfoot had made entries on his Facebook page such as, “At mummy’s pension again,” and “mummy’s purse is getting another hiding.”

The judge, Mr Recorder Paul Hopkins, said he found the entries “extremely concerning” and suggested that Lightfoot was relishing in what he was doing to his mother’s finances.

Lightfoot’s barrister, David Williams, said most of the money had gone on gambling, to which he had been addicted for 30 years.

He was now so determined to end the habit he had placed photographs of himself behind the counters of Milford’s three betting shops and had instructed staff not serve him.

He had also sort help from a local charity and had been allocated a support worker.

Mr Williams said on being arrested, Lightfoot had told police, “I feel sick at betraying my mother’s trust.”

Mr Williams said his mother had declined to make a victim impact statement and had made it clear she did not want her son to be sent to prison.

But Mr Recorder Hopkins told Lightfoot, “You had been in a position of considerable trust as her carer. She was giving you money while you were conducting a sustained course of dishonesty towards her.

“It was despicable, appalling. A message needs to go out that the courts will not tolerate behaviour of this type towards other family members.

“Your mother deserved protection,” he added.

Mr Roberts-Harry said a Proceeds of Crime investigation was underway to see if Lightfoot could repay any of the stolen money, although the prospects seemed to be “unrealistic” as he now survived on Jobseeker’s allowance.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.