A painter and decorator from Drefach Velindre has been handed a six-month suspended jail term after stealing at least £2,300 from an elderly neighbour suffering from dementia.

Christopher John Morgan, of Oaklands, admitted 17 separate charges of stealing cash from Lyn Davies during a period lasting almost 18 months while pretending to support the now 89-year-old, who believed the pair were friends.

Llanelli court was told how the first recorded theft took place on December 1, 2015, when Mr Davies was 86.

Morgan, 54, continued taking money until April 3, 2017, when police arrested him.

During one 32-day period – between March 3, 2017, and April 3, 2017, Morgan took cash from Mr Davies’ wallet at least 14 times.

Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard Jones told the court Mr Davies believed the pair had “a genuine friendship”.

“His victim believed they were close friends,” said Mr Pritchard Jones.

“He trusted him.”

As Mr Davies’ health deteriorated and he could no longer handle his own affairs, Morgan was given some responsibility to help him.

“He took the opportunity to steal from Mr Davies’ wallet when he was supposed to be checking on his well-being,” said Mr Pritchard Jones.

The court was told that by late 2016, Mr Davies’ family began to suspect that money was going missing and they secretly installed a CCTV camera in the property week before Christmas.

On December 22, Morgan was seen entering the property and stealing money from Mr Davies’ wallet.

The cameras recorded him taking money from Mr Davies’ wallet on numerous occasions over the coming weeks.

Mr Pritchard Jones told the court that Morgan had “tried to minimise what he had been doing” when confronted by police.

In interview, he claimed he had gone to check on Mr Davies and, when leaving the property, had seen the wallet and taken the cash.

However, the CCTV clearly showed Morgan repeatedly going to the house and taking money without speaking to Mr Davies, who by then remained in his bedroom.

Mr Davies’ daughter told that court that though her father “had never been afraid of anything in his life” he was now “scared to be in his own home”.

David Elvy, defending, told the court the thefts were “a breach of trust of a friend of many years”.

“He realises the enormity of what he’s done,” said Mr Elvy.

“He cannot understand why he fell into temptation.”

He said Morgan was unable to say exactly how much money he had stolen.

A probation officer who interviewed him said Morgan was “greatly aware of the seriousness of the offences” but that he could offer "no explanation for why he had done it”.

“He has shown great remorse,” the officer said.

The court was told Morgan had no financial worries despite recently losing his job as he had “a very healthy redundancy package” and had also received compensation following a car accident.

Deputy District Judge Martin Sheen told Morgan: “You have displayed disgraceful behaviour in taking the money.

“This is your first offence but it’s a very serious offence.

“You have acknowledged you behaved disgustingly.

“You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself for stealing from a man who believed you were his friend.”

DDJ Steen said he had considered sending Morgan to crown court for a more substantial sentence but gave him credit for his early guilty pleas.

“I am satisfied you are genuinely remorseful for your behaviour,” DDJ Steen told him.

Morgan was sentenced to six months jail, suspended for 12 months.

He was ordered to pay £2,300 compensation to Mr Davies and told to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work in the community.

He was also told to complete 20 hours of rehabilitation to address any psychological issues.

Morgan was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

“I can understand Mr Davies’ family’s feelings of bitterness and anger,” DDJ Steen said.

He also warned Morgan that Mr Davies’ family would be entitled to bring civil proceedings against him if they so choose.