Uncle and his nephew ransacked village gym

AN uncle and nephew ransacked a gym and stole items worth more than £6,000 including a charity collection bucket intended for Velindre Cancer Centre and takings from a youth boxing club.

Alan Hood and his nephew, Dafydd Hood, admitted stealing £1,200 in donations that were meant to be going to Velindre, along with fitness equipment.

Cardiff Crown Court heard the incident occurred at First Choice Fitness, in Pontyclun, overnight from January 8.

Jeffrey Jones, prosecuting, said a member of staff arrived at 6am and found the downstairs had been “ransacked”.

Prosecutors said the pair, along with a third, unknown, person, stole fitness equipment, protein supplements and hoodies.

The court heard the total loss caused to the gym was £6,668.59.

Alan Hood, 53, who is in HM Parc Prison, initially denied burglary but changed his plea during his trial. Ian Ibrahim, defending, pointed out some of the items were returned.

Dafydd Hood, 27, from Anderson Place in Adamsdown, Cardiff, admitted burglary.

Rosamund Rutter, defending, stressed her client had no previous convictions. She argued: “He was roped into this by his uncle.”

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke jailed Alan Hood for five years and disqualified him from driving for three years.

Dafydd Hood was given a 15-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work. He must pay £1,000 in costs.