News
Milford Haven: Gambling addict jailed for stealing £20k from elderly mother
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
Court hears man exposed his flaccid manhood ‘by accident’
A 21-YEAR-OLD Pembrokeshire man has appeared before magistrates charged with intentionally exposing his genitals in a public place.
Thomas Jones is accused of carrying out the act at a property in New Moat, Clarbeston Road, on November 9, 2022.
“The defendant knocked on the door of a female and offered his gardening services,” Crown prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
“She accepted his offer and moved her car so that he could move his van, but when she turned around, she could see his flaccid penis was outside his trousers. When she pointed this out to him, he said he didn’t know that it was exposed.”
Jones denies the charge. He was released on unconditional bail to await his trial at Haverfordwest magistrates court on January 6.
Crime
Regular cocaine user from Milford Haven taken off the road
A MILFORD HAVEN resident who admits to being a regular cocaine user has lost his driving licence after being found behind the wheel when he was 15 times over the legal Benzoylecgonine limit.
Teifion Morse, 41, was stopped by officers just before midnight on May 1 following reports that he was driving his Vauxhall Insignia along the A477 at excessive speeds.
“The vehicle was travelling westwards towards Kilgetty, and Teifion Morse was the driver and the sole occupant, “ Crown Prosecutor Nia James told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
A roadside drugs wipe proved positive while further blood tests carried out at the police custody suite showed that Morse had 800 mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system (the legal limit is 50), and 20 mcg of cocaine. The legal limit is 10.
Ms James said that when Morse was spoken to by officers, he told them that he knew the readings would be positive. “I’ve done stupid amounts today,” he said.
Morse, of Hawthorn Path, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to two charges of drug driving. A probation report stated that since leaving the military five and a half years ago, Morse has suffered from mental health issues.
He’s been using cocaine as a coping mechanism,” said the probation officer. “He freely admits that he uses cocaine to help him cope, but it’s spiralled and is getting more and more out of control. He would like support to kick this habit.”
Morse chose to be legally unrepresented when he appeared before magistrates.
“It was my stupid fault and I’m trying to take the correct steps to get on the right path,” he said in mitigation.
Morse was sentenced to an 18-month community order during which he must carry out 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work. He was disqualified from driving for 15 months and must pay a £140 court surcharge and £85 costs.
News
Haverfordwest motorist ‘was well and truly over the limit’
A MOTORIST , described by the Crown Prosecution as being ‘well and truly over the limit’, has been banned from driving by Haverfordwest magistrates.
Police were called to the County Hall car park, Haverfordwest just before midnight on Hallowe’en following reports of the way in which an Alfa Romeo was being driven along Old Hakin Road.
When officers arrived, they discovered Ashley Horrocks, 32, behind the wheel.
“When officers spoke to him, he was displaying the demeanour of someone who was intoxicated,” said Crown Prosecutor Nia James.
A roadside breath test was positive and subsequent breath tests carried out at the police station showed that Horrocks had 78 mcg of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 35.
“He was well and truly over the limit,” added Ms James.
Horrocks, of Rack Hill Terrace, Hawthorn Rise, Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to the drink-drive charge. He was legally represented by Mr Michael Kelleher.
“It was an incredibly stupid decision on his part to drive, but he hasn’t drunk any alcohol since,” he said.
Horrocks was fined £250 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £100 surcharge. He was disqualified from driving for 20 months.
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