A gambling addict from Milford Haven who stole £25,000 from his elderly mother and even sold her jewellery has been jailed for 14 months this afternoon (Friday).

Richard Keith Lightfoot, aged 53, of Victoria Road, admitted two offences of fraud and one of theft.

Gwilym Roberts-Harry, prosecuting, told Swansea crown court that Lightfoot had been the carer for his 84 year old mother Rosina.

Despite her giving him money from time to time he began to use her bank account to write cheques to himself, and hid her statements under his bed mattress to stop her from finding out.

He got away with £13,950, and an additional £8,021 by using her debit card to gamble, order Chinese takeaways and to buy mobile telephones and clothes.

Lightfoot also used her bank details to order £2,370 worth of clothing from a catalogue firm.

Mr Roberts-Harry said Lightfoot also stole gold rings and chains belonging to his mother and sold them for cash.

He said the offending came to light after his sister, Sally Jones, became suspicious when Lightfoot insisted his mother cash in a life insurance policy to pay for some storm damage to her home, instead of using money she should have had in her bank account.

It was also discovered that Lightfoot had made entries on his Facebook page such as, “At mummy’s pension again,” and “mummy’s purse is getting another hiding.”

The judge, Mr Recorder Paul Hopkins, said he found the entries “extremely concerning” and suggested that Lightfoot was relishing in what he was doing to his mother’s finances.

Lightfoot’s barrister, David Williams, said most of the money had gone on gambling, to which he had been addicted for 30 years.

He was now so determined to end the habit he had placed photographs of himself behind the counters of Milford’s three betting shops and had instructed staff not serve him.

He had also sought help from a local charity and had been allocated a support worker.

Mr Williams said on being arrested, Lightfoot had told police: “I feel sick at betraying my mother’s trust.”

Mr Williams said his mother had declined to make a victim impact statement and had made it clear she did not want her son to be sent to prison.

But Mr Recorder Hopkins told Lightfoot: “You had been in a position of considerable trust as her carer. She was giving you money while you were conducting a sustained course of dishonesty towards her.

“It was despicable, appalling. A message needs to go out that the courts will not tolerate behaviour of this type towards other family members.

“Your mother deserved protection,” he added.

Mr Roberts-Harry said a Proceeds of Crime investigation was underway to see if Lightfoot could repay any of the stolen money, although the prospects seemed to be “unrealistic” as he now survived on Jobseeker’s allowance.