News
Prolific conman jailed for befriending and confusing cashiers in betting shops
A PROLIFIC conman has been jailed after scamming bookmakers in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire by befriending and confusing cashiers.
Jason Haddigan was so well-versed in fraud that he had even written a book entitled “How and Why I Conned the Bookies.”
Despite fleeing the country after carrying out scams in Ammanford and Narberth, sufficient evidence was secured by Dyfed-Powys Police during a determined investigation to charge the 49-year-old with six offences.
Officer in case PC Jade Probert said: “This was a very protracted and complex investigation, which saw enquiries being carried out over the course of 18 months.
“Haddigan is a notorious conman, who was banned from entering every bookmakers in England and Wales, and had even written a book about how he had defrauded staff.
“His technique was to befriend cashiers in betting shops, gaining their trust. He would then deliberately scribble and forge vetting slips, and use his knowledge of the working procedures and equipment they use to con the cashier with a sleight of hand technique to switch the original slip for a forged one.”
Dyfed-Powys Police received a call from a betting shop in Ammanford on May 27, 2019, reporting suspicions that the cashier had been scammed by a man claiming to have won £1,600.
The caller stated that the man had placed a ‘slow bet’ on a dog race and spent the afternoon at the shop, befriending the cashier. At the end of the race, he ‘played dumb’ and claimed he could not remember who he had bet on.
The cashier had then handed him the original betting slip, which he fraudulently amended with the winning numbers. He was handed £1,000 and asked to return the following day for the remaining £600.
PC Probert said: “Haddigan then used a similar technique at a shop in Narberth, where he placed a bet on a horse race as close to the start of the race as possible.
“A few minutes later, he asked for his betting slip back, claiming he had forgotten to include the numbers of the horses – but by then he knew the result of the race and filled in the winners.
“This gained him over £1,700 in winnings.”
After committing the two offences, Haddigan fled the country and travelled to Ireland. He later returned to England, but proved incredibly difficult to locate.
He was finally arrested at Gatwick Airport as he again tried to leave the country under an alias.
Ammanford Sergeant Dylan Davies said: “Throughout police interviews, Haddigan refused to comment which resulted in a significant amount of work for investigating officers.
“However, thanks to their determination – and particularly that of PC Jade Probert – sufficient evidence was secured to charge him with six offences, which he finally admitted at court.”
Jason Haddigan was charged with two counts of fraud, two counts of fraud by false representation and two breaches of antisocial behaviour orders.
He appeared at Swansea Crown Court on March 19, where he was handed a reduced prison sentence of 21 weeks for his guilty plea.
News
Fire strikes popular Pembrokeshire pub – no staff or customers hurt
A FIRE broke out at The Bristol Trader pub on Quay Street, Haverfordwest, today (Wednesday, Nov 6), impacting two floors and the roof space of the popular establishment.
Firefighters from Haverfordwest and Milford Haven stations responded to the scene at 11:38am, spending around two hours battling the blaze. Smoke was seen billowing from the building as Dyfed-Powys Police closed Quay Street, advising drivers to avoid the area and seek alternative routes.
A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “Crews responded to a commercial fire in a two-storey building, measuring approximately 50m by 30m. The fire began on the first floor, spread to the second floor and roof space. Crews utilised eight breathing apparatus sets, four hose reel jets, one 45mm main jet, small gear, and a turntable ladder.”
Fire crews departed the scene at 1:58pm, and the police reopened Quay Street at 2:15pm.
No injuries were reported, and in a Facebook post, The Bristol Trader reassured customers that all staff members were safe.
Crime
Shoplifter sentenced for two Pembrokeshire thefts
A SHOPLIFTER has appeared before magistrates after admitting stealing food and alcohol from two stores in Pembroke Dock
John Ashby, 37, was seen stealing two crates of San Miguel lager valued at £22 from B&M Bargains on July 8 while on Hallowe’en of this year he entered the Farm Foods store, and stole 12 food items valued at £80.61.
His solicitor, Michael Kellher, said that the offences were committed after Ashby relocated to Pembrokeshire from London, where he was employed as a bricklayer.
“He’s always been in employment, but since moving to Pembrokeshire he hasn’t been able to find a job,” he said. “He hasn’t signed on for Universal Credit with the result that he stole the foodstuffs out of necessity.”
Meanwhile probation officer Julie Norman said that Ashby’s Halloween theft was committed after the defendant had been placed on a Community Order, imposed on September 24, for a previous shoplifting conviction.
“Having said that, he’s attended all appointments with the probation service,” she said. “The Community Order was given following his first ever conviction, so he doesn’t trouble the courts on a regular basis.”
After asking to address the magistrates, Ashby apologised to the court for his behaviour.
“I’m not a bad person,” he said. “I’ve worked since the age of 16, but I’m not excusing my behaviour.”
Ashby was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £32 surcharge. He must also pay £80.61 compensation to Farm Foods and £22 compensation to B&M.
Crime
Internet dating app relationship turns sour for Pembrokeshire couple
AN internet dating app relationship has resulted in a four-figure fine for a Pembrokeshire man after he refused to accept that a two-month relationship was over.
Gareth Thomas, 51, met Rachel Blundell on an unknown dating app in January of this year.
“The relationship lasted for seven or eight weeks, they had meals out together and the defendant stayed over at her property on a few occasions,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
“The relationship came to an end for whatever reason, but the defendant chose to continue sending her texts which were persistent and unwanted.”
In a victim impact statement read out to the court, Ms Blundell said that Thomas’s persistence left her feeling anxious.
“I’m unsure why he feels the need to contact me, because the relationship is over,” she said.
“He knows where I live and I’m afraid he’ll start causing issues with me. I just want him to accept that the relationship is over and he’ll leave me alone because it makes me feel alarmed, harassed and distressed. I’m scared about what he might do in the future.”
Thomas, of Gatehouse View, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to a charge of harassment without violence. He was represented in court by Mr Michael Kelleher.
“He agrees that there was repeated contact with Ms Blundell, but there were no threats nor violence.”
Mr Kelleher went on to say that Thomas was confused following Ms Blundell’s decision to terminate the relationship.
“She claimed that her father had been taken ill, but then went onto another dating site, and my client couldn’t quite understand why. He was confused, he didn’t know why it happened, and he was even optimistic that she’d have second thoughts and they could sort things out. He was never once told not to contact her.”
Meanwhile probation officer Charmaine Fox said that Thomas believed the way in which Ms Blundell ended the relationship was ‘a lie’.
“In the past he’s been able to rekindle a relationship, and he thought this may happen again. But things are very different in modern society, and the way people contact each other is now very different.”
Thomas was fined £833 and ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order during which he must carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He must also adhere to a 12-month restraining order preventing him from approaching and entering any address which Ms Blundell may reside in and not to enter any electronic data that refers directly to Ms Blundell.
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