Bogus gardener stole disabled man’s phone

A burglar tricked his way into the home of a disabled man by pretending to be a gardener.

Luke Jones offered to cut the victim’s grass and then let himself into his kitchen, saying he wanted a glass of water.

But he was caught after he was traced by DNA left on the glass.

Sentencing him at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Jeremy Jenkins described the defendant’s criminal record as “appalling”.

The court heard the distraction burglary happened in Abertillery on June 6 last year.

Ieuan Bennett, prosecuting, said the victim was in “poor health” after having a stroke.

He told the court Jones knocked on the back door, pretending to be a gardener.

The court heard the defendant was “persistent” and “pestered” the victim until he agreed to pay him £5 in cash for the work.

Prosecutors said Jones walked to the other side of the property.

Mr Bennett added: “By the time he managed to catch up the defendant had walked inside and helped himself to water, using that as an excuse to get into the house.”

The court heard the complainant “ushered him out”.

Prosecutors said the victim found his phone was missing.

Mr Bennett said he had been before the courts for 52 previous offences. He was jailed in 2013 for five years for burglary.

The 27-year-old, who is a serving prisoner at HM Parc Prison, admitted burglary.

Hashim Salman, defending, said his client was nine months into that sentence and was due to be released in February 2020.

Jones was jailed for 18 months to be served consecutively to his current sentence.