DRESSED in military uniform with a row of medals, and with a miniature pony by his side, Gareth Blyth was a great attraction when he stood with a collecting bucket in the centre of Tenby.

People believed they were donating money to a military charity and gave generously.

But it has now been revealed that Blyth was actually pocketing the cash for himself.

It was a scenario that was repeated in holiday resorts and towns throughout Wales on dozens of occasions.

Blyth, from Taliaris, north of Llandeilo, has now admitted that he "may have misled" many members of the public, following a "significant" prosecution brought by Carmarthenshire County Council.

He was ordered to pay £5,000 costs and given a 12-month conditional discharge after pleading guilty to three counts under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations.

The council's licensing officers began investigating after spotting Blyth in military costume in Guildhall Square, Carmarthen, in January 2015 and then in other locations around Carmarthen and Llandeilo on several other dates during the year.

People have also seen him collecting in Tenby and Llandudno, where he was the subject of an investigation by animal welfare officers after complaints that he had been sleeping in a van with the 19-year-old Shetland-type pony, named Taffy.

Blyth, who is in his 60s, wore a replica uniform of the Welsh Horse Yeomanry - a British Army regiment disbanded after the First World War - and had a sign on his collection bucket stating he was raising money for the Welsh Horse Yeomanry Society.

He was unable to produce a street collection permit and claimed he had been told by police that what he was doing was classed as busking, and therefore did not require a licence or permit.

The prosecution was brought after he ignored all advice, verbal cautions and written warnings, and he eventually admitted under interview that he kept all the money he collected for himself and his horses. Carmarthenshire County Council's officers have now been congratulated for their diligence by the executive board member for public protection, Councillor Philip Hughes.

He said: "This is a significant prosecution for Carmarthenshire County Council which demonstrates how seriously we take our duties relating to licensing and permits.

"Gareth Blyth misled many members of the public who believed they were donating money to charity, when instead their money was being used to line his pockets.

"He was often seen attracting large crowds, particularly parents with young children, collecting large sums of money from members of the public."