News

Prolific conman jailed for befriending and confusing cashiers in betting shops

Published

5 years ago

March 29, 2021

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.

Crime

Dog owner admits causing suffering to pet with untreated skin disease

Published

4 hours ago

June 11, 2026

Staff Writer

Collie cross German Shepherd left suffering after illness went unaddressed, court told
A CARMARTHEN man has admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a dog after failing to properly address a serious skin condition.

David Allen Murphy, aged 40, of Quay Street, Carmarthen, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jun 11) after previously pleading guilty to an offence under the Animal Welfare Act.

The court heard that between November 28 and December 28, 2025, Murphy caused unnecessary suffering to a Collie Cross German Shepherd dog named Cora by failing to adequately investigate and address the animal’s skin disease.

Prosecuted by the RSPCA, the charge stated that Murphy either knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that failing to deal with the condition would likely cause suffering to the dog.

Murphy, of Flat 2, 12 Quay Street, entered a guilty plea on May 21.

The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared, with magistrates remanding Murphy on unconditional bail.

He is due to return to Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, July 23, at 10:00am for sentencing.

Business

Welsh Conservatives demand answers over Tata Steel furnace delays

Published

4 hours ago

June 11, 2026

Tom Sinclair

WELSH CONSERVATIVES have called on the Welsh Government to explain who knew what, and when, about reported delays to Tata Steel’s new electric arc furnace at Port Talbot.

Shadow Economy, Energy and Planning Minister Janet Finch-Saunders MS raised the issue in the Senedd during an emergency statement following the recent fire at the steelworks.

While much of the focus has been on the fire, reports have suggested that separate concerns about delays to the electric arc furnace may have been known for several weeks.

It was reported on June 7 that Tata Steel had discussed potential delays linked to National Grid connectivity issues with “investors” during a conference call around a month earlier.

Mrs Finch-Saunders is now seeking clarity on whether those investors included the UK Government, which is investing £500m towards the £1.25bn project.

The previous UK Conservative Government also established an £80m transition fund to support workers at risk of losing their jobs. The Welsh Conservatives say they want clarification on whether any of that funding remains available if delays create further financial pressure for affected workers.

Mrs Finch-Saunders said: “If UK Government Ministers were aware of the issue a month ago, were Welsh Government Ministers informed?

“If Welsh Government Ministers were not informed, why not? If they were informed, why did the Economy Minister tell the Senedd that he only became aware of the delay on Monday?

“We now need a clear timeline setting out exactly when concerns first emerged and who was told.

“Port Talbot workers and their families deserve answers.”