Man sold mum’s furniture to buy drugs and alcohol

A MOTHER returned from holiday to find her home stripped bare after her son sold her furniture to get money for drugs and alcohol.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Irene Hall dropped her phone in shock when she received a call to say her television, coffee table, and chairs had been taken. Prosecutors said her son Jeffrey Boulton told her: “I’m not very good.”

The court heard the incident occurred in late September at Glebe Road in Trethomas.

Jason Howells, prosecuting, said Boulton stayed at his mother’s house while she was away. On September 28 she received messages from him and a housing officer saying the furniture had been taken from her address.

Mr Howells said: “It caused her to drop the phone in shock.”

Boulton explained he had sold the table and chairs and Ms Hall told him to return the items by the time she got home. Mr Howells said the items were worth more than £4,800 and there were also two antiques of sentimental value.

The court heard Boulton went to Bedwas Police Station around 4am on October 1, knowing he was wanted but looking for somewhere to sleep. Questioned about the theft he stated: “I sold it to someone. To be honest it’s a blur.” He was found to have two knives. Prosecutors said he had been before the courts for 49 previous offences. Boulton, 38, from Coronation Street in Trethomas, Caerphilly, admitted theft, theft from a person, and two counts of possessing an offensive weapon. Judge Thomas Crowther QC jailed him for 10 months. The knives will be destroyed.