Man jailed for stealing tobacco worth £1,000

A MAN has been jailed for targeting the Carmarthen depot of foods supplier Castell Howell in the theft of tobacco worth more than £1,000.

Ryan James Robinson also stole a bouncy castle, electrical goods and groceries from an Aldi supermarket in Brecon.

He pleaded guilty to two theft charges via video link from custody at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Robinson, 45, of Symmonds Street, Waun Wen, Swansea, was working as a scaffolder near the Castell Howell depot in Carmarthen when he carried out the theft with an accomplice on September 28.

The tobacco was worth £1,192.65.

The bouncy castle and other items taken from the Aldi in Brecon earlier in the year, on June 23, were worth £489.93.

The court heard that the same vehicle was used as a getaway in both thefts.

Prosecutor Sian Vaughan said: “The defendant had been working as a scaffolder and was asked to go with another man to Castell Howell. He then disabled an alarm and was able to lower the tobacco into an aisle.”

Defence solicitor Peter Rhys Jones said: “He accepts the theft but it was a joint enterprise with another person is what he says.

“I’m surprised the police didn’t follow up on this issue, but the same vehicle was used in the Brecon and Castell Howell thefts.”

No exact detail was given by Mrs Vaughan regarding how the Aldi theft unfolded but said Robinson made off with food, electrical items and the bouncy castle in a trolley.

In sentencing, district judge Christopher James, turning to Robinson via the video link, said: “These offences are aggravated by your previous convictions.

“With the Castell Howell offence, you were part of a leading role in actively going to the store, disabling the alarm to then place the tobacco in the aisle for another (accomplice) to come along and take it away. In both thefts there was an element of planning and targeting, as well as the fact that you used the same vehicle each time to get away in.”

For the Aldi offence, Robinson was sentenced to eight weeks behind bars and for the Castell Howell theft, 16 weeks.

Both sentences will be served concurrently and judge James said custody was the only option due to Robinson’s record. LLANDOVERY’S first ever blue plaque has been unveiled by local AM and Plaid leader Adam Price.

The plaque marks the life of the town’s former vicar, Rhys Prichard, who was also known as The Old Vicar.

As well as being the vicar of Llandovery from 1602, Prichard was a clergyman and poet, holding various posts at St. David’s Cathedral in Pembrokesh- ire. He was educated at Jesus College, Oxford, and composed many poems on religious themes.

His greatest fame lies with his influential poem Cannwyll y Cymry (The Welshman’s Candle), a collection of poetical teachings and moral guidance.

The work of having the plaque has been led by county councillor Handel Davies and a group of vol- unteers, including members of the town council which paid for the plaque itself.

During the official unveiling, Mr Davies gave thanks to all those who had contributed to the efforts, making a special tribute to Mr and Mrs Phelps who now own the home in which Rhys Prichard lived, and had agreed to have the plaque on their home.