A kind hearted grandmother offered to buy a homeless man a few drinks at a pub before he cruelly decided to use the opportunity to steal from her. A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday heard how the victim felt sorry for Craig Scarfe who she met at the Griffin Inn in Rhydyfelin, Pontypridd.
The court heard how the victim had never met Scarfe before but realised he was homeless and began going up to the bar for him on February 2, 2023, Wales Online reports. David Pugh, prosecuting said: “He was not sitting far from her and she had bought him some drinks because she was aware he was homeless.
“At around 10pm and 10.30pm that evening she went to the bar and past her bag and while she was at the bar two customers informed her that the defendant had put his coat over the bag and taken the bag and ran out of the pub.” Mr Pugh told the court how multiple people had realised what had happened and ran out of the pub to see whether they could find the defendant but he unfortunately fled the scene.
The complainant and a friend later found Scarfe, however, and confronted him. Scarfe insisted he had only taken £20 from her and handed her a £20 note but the woman said he had taken her bag, bank cards, £50 in cash along with 'sentimental' pictures of her grandkids and inhalers for asthma.
Scarfe, who is 39-years-old and lives on the roadside below a bridge in Treforest answered no comment to all questions in a police interview. The court heard how at the time of the offence Scarfe who had seven previous convictions for ten offence was serving a 24-month suspended prison sentence order for sexual assault of a fellow patient when he was in hospital.
Mr Pugh said: “That offence took place at the psychological ward at Ystrad Mynach Hospital". Hannah Friedman, for Scarfe, submitted: “There was little or no planning and a limited awareness or understanding of the offence. It occurred as a cry for help.”
Ms Friedman said the current offence took place 21 months into a 24-month order and during that time Scarfe had somewhat complied with a community order. She said notes in the presentence report and a psychological report shows the mental health issues he suffers from.
Judge Jeremy Jenkins told Scarfe in the dock: “This is the third breach of the order and the time has come when I have in my judgement no other realistic choice but to resentence you for that breach. I take very much into account the difficulties you suffer and the work you have managed to do on the suspended sentence order.
"I take into account Ms Friedman’s pleas that to sentence you to anything other than a financial penalty would be unjust. In my view it would not be unjust.” Judge Jenkins sentenced Scarfe to four months for theft, half of which he will serve in custody.
The defendant must also pay a court surcharge within three months of his release.
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