A drug addict stole money from his mother-in-law which she had borrowed to pay for her daughter's funeral. He initially denied taking the money, which was intended to be used to pay for his own partner's send-off, but confessed to his victim in a letter from prison.
Jonathan Davies, 36, of Ogmore Vale, Bridgend, stole £860 from a bag belonging to Melanie Amos, the mother of his partner Sadie Hoyle. Ms Hoyle had recently died and Ms Amos had taken out £5,000 to pay for her daughter's funeral which she kept in a bag behind the bedroom door.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard Davies had attended the funeral directors with his mother-in-law and had been invited to spend the night at her home on April 20 last year. He gave Ms Amos' friend a lift the next day and she saw money stuffed in his shoe. When she told the victim Ms Amos checked the bag and discovered £860 was missing.
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Prosecutor Richard Ace said the police were called and Ms Amos confronted Davies who denied taking the money but offered her £120. She initially decided not to press charges as she felt sorry for the defendant but he later admitted in a letter from prison he had taken the cash.
He was arrested and claimed he could not remember the exact amount of money taken but told police he had intended to take a drugs overdose. The defendant, of Railway Terrace, later pleaded guilty to theft.
In a victim personal statement Ms Amos said: "This has made me feel disgusted with him. I allowed him into my home as he was grieving and included him in everything. I trusted him and felt sorry for him but for him to do this to me and Sadie was a complete breach of trust."
Defence barrister Robert Chudleigh conceded this was an "unfortunate incident". He added: "[Davies] had been in a relationship with Ms Hoyle for a number of years. They had a child together and he hoped of building a future together."
Sentencing, Recorder Eugene Egan said: "[Ms Amos] was plainly upset at the death of her daughter and you must have known that." He sentenced Davies to eight months imprisonment suspended for 21 months. The defendant was also ordered to carry out a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement, complete a 12-month drug rehabilitation requirement, and was made subject to a curfew for four months.
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