Barry thief stole Michael Kors coat and handbag outside club

South Wales Argus

24-07-2025

Wesley Jones, 48, from Barry took the coat from an unlocked BMW in Bridgend and the handbag outside Live Lounge in Cardiff city centre.
He was also arrested for trying doorhandles and looking inside windows at three houses on Morfa Street and Oddfellows Street in Bridgend.
The offences took place between April 24 and April 28, Newport Crown Court was told.
Jones, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to three attempted burglaries, one count of theft from a motor vehicle and one of theft.
Ruth Smith, prosecuting, revealed how the defendant had 54 previous convictions for 131 offences.
They include robbery, burglary, theft and shoplifting.
His barrister James Evans said his client was a former soldier.
Jones had witnessed the aftermath of the horrors of the Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland as well as that of Britain's involvement in Kosovo in the 1990s.
'It would have had a profound effect on anyone,' his barrister told the court.
'He comes from a good family and had a catering qualification before he joined the army,' Mr Evans added.
'The defendant suffered from PTSD and turned to drugs, especially crack cocaine.
'He said it has dominated his life since 2006.
'The defendant has spent a large part of his life in custody.
'He wants to become drug free and he wants it more than anything in the world.'
Judge Celia Hughes told Jones: 'You targeted a woman outside a nightclub late at night and you knew her.'
She added: 'Society must be protected from you until you can manage your drug use and you stop stealing to fund your habit.
'You were committing these offences to buy illegal drugs.'
She jailed Jones for 18 weeks for the offences committed in Bridgend and a consecutive term of 18 weeks for the Live Lounge matter
He was sent to prison for a total of 36 weeks and told any time he had spent remanded in custody would count towards his sentence.
The defendant must pay a victim surcharge.