Ex-soldier stole man’s wallet, keys and phone before driving off in his new £10,000 car

AN EX-SOLDIER stole a man’s wallet, phone and keys, and drove off in his brand new £10,000 car – after the victim was injected with heroin.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Wesley Jones, who served in the army for six years, became addicted to alcohol and drugs after leaving the armed forces.

Recorder Simon Mills described the 40-year-old’s criminal record as “appalling”.

Roger Griffiths, prosecuting, said Dean Williams had just left a pub on Charles Street in Cardiff when Jones approached him and offered him cocaine on July 22 last year.

The court heard Mr Williams was “extremely intoxicated” when they went to Jones’ flat in Canton Court.

Prosecutors said co-defendant Samantha Parnell injected Mr Williams with heroin and he could not remember much after that.

Recorder Mills noted it was the first time Mr Williams had taken heroin and it had a “serious effect” on him.

The court heard he was unwell and Jones called for paramedics, who advised the complainant to go to hospital, but he said he did not want to go.

Prosecutors said when Mr Williams woke up, he realised his wallet, phone and keys had gone.

He later discovered his new car, worth more than £10,000, was missing from outside his home.

Mr Griffiths said Jones used the address on the driving licence in the stolen wallet to find the victim’s home.

The complainant reported the incident to the police and Jones was arrested on August 1, after a police officer attending an unrelated matter recognised him.

Jones told officers he “saved the bloke’s life” by calling an ambulance.

He stated Mr Williams gave him his bank card and PIN number so he could buy more alcohol.

Parnell accepted injecting him with heroin and using his card.

CCTV showed the defendants using Mr Williams’ bank cards at various shops in Canton and the city centre.

Prosecutors said the victim was “very shaken up” by the offending.

In a personal statement read out in court, he said he found the incident “traumatising”.

He added he is now scared of leaving the house, has been unable to return to work and feels unable to trust people.

Jones, from Canton Court, initially denied theft and fraud by false representation, but changed his plea on the day his trial was due to start.

Recorder Mills noted he had been before the courts for 34 previous theft offences.

Jenny Yeo, defending, said her client served as a soldier between 1997 and 2003 in Bosnia, Kosovo and Northern Ireland.

She said he believed he may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, but has never been formally diagnosed.

Ms Yeo told the court Jones struggled with addiction since leaving the Army and used alcohol and drugs as a “coping mechanism”.

She said he hopes to work on the railways after being released, adding: “He wants to put offending behind him.”

Parnell, 23, who does not have a fixed address, admitted supplying heroin and fraud by false representation.

Rhodri Chudleigh, defending, said she became addicted to heroin at a young age and was homeless at the time of the offending.

The court heard Mr Williams consented to taking heroin and Parnell did not know it was the first time he had taken it.

Mr Chudleigh said: “She is motivated to change.”

Jones was jailed for 27 months, while Parnell was given an 18-month jail term, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 20 days of a rehabilitation activity.