Son threatened to kill his own father over money for drugs
A SON threatened to kill his own father if he did not give him money to buy drugs and stole £8,000 as well as jewellery that belonged to his late mother.
Adam Smith, 37, was physically and financially abusive to his father Roger Smith and took advantage of his ill-health to steal thousands of pounds and violently demand money.
He was arrested on June 21 after turning up at Mr Smith’s home in the morning while under the influence of drugs and kicked over his father’s belongings before shouting: “I am coming for you old man, don’t call your friends.”
He then picked up a table and Bluetooth speaker and hurled it at the victim.
The defendant then threatened to stamp on Mr Smith’s head and said: “Get money for me. I don’t care how you get it, even if you have to sell yourself.”
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court was told the victim approached workmen outside his home begging for them to call the police.
One of the workmen could hear Smith shouting: “Let’s go for it. Get back in the house or I’ll kill you.”
Following Smith’s arrest, Mr Smith told police his son had “issues with controlling his anger” and had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital when he was a teenager for outbursts of anger and aggression. The defendant also began drinking alcohol at the age of 13.
He said his son’s abuse had got worse over the last three or four months and described him as a “Jekyll and Hyde” figure when he was on drugs.
Mr Smith said every time his the defendant demanded money he would shake through stress and as a result of his Parkinson’s diagnosis.
He said he felt intimidated by his son and constantly felt on edge in his presence.
Prosecutor Christopher Evans said there had been a number of previous incidents of abuse including on June 4 and June 7 where the police were called due to Smith threatening violence against his father if he did not give him money.
Between January and June this year the defendant took a total of £8,210 from his father’s bank account without permission having been given access to a bank card to help his father.
This theft has left Mr Smith around £10,000 in debt.
He also stole jewellery including his late mother’s engagement ring and pawned them in order to buy drugs along with electronic equipment including Macbooks and iPhones which belonged to Mr Smith.
In a victim personal statement Mr Smith said he feels “the lowest of the low”.
Mr Evans added: “He feels like he’s let down his late wife due to how things have turned out and he feels like he’s let his son down as well.”
Smith, of Fosse Close, Newport, pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour and two counts of fraud.
The court also heard he had previous convictions for battery, common assault, and criminal damage.
Defence barrister Paul Hewitt said his client had to accept his father’s account of the incident because “he could not remember anything” due to his intoxication.
He said Smith had been remanded in custody since his arrest and had completed an education course while in prison as well as working as a painter and decorator.
Mr Hewitt added: “He agrees with his father’s conclusion that the drugs he’s been battling with since a child has changed him.”
Sentencing, Judge Timothy Petts said: “You physically and financially abused your father who was vulnerable due to his Parkinson’s disease.
“Because of your drug habit you would demand money in the early hours of the morning with threats to kill him and unsurprisingly he was scared.”
Smith was sentenced to a total of 27 months’ imprisonment.