A pensioner with an "appalling" criminal record took advantage of a vulnerable neighbour by pawning his valuables while he lay in a hospital bed. Daniel McDowell, 69, of Bryn Coed in Gwersyllt appeared at Mold Crown Court on Wednesday after admitting theft against his neighbour Stephen Jones.
The court heard the men lived on the same street for years and McDowell often lent support to Mr Jones, who was housebound, with things like shopping and general company. Mr Jones suffered a "serious illness" in May this year and had to spend more than a month in Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
During that time, the court heard McDowell was trusted by his neighbour with a house key in order to "pick up the post" and "switch lights on and off" so the property didn't look empty. It was during this time, whilst Mr Jones lay in a hospital bed, that McDowell helped himself to a number of items.
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The court heard that these included various pieces of scrap gold, a pocket watch and various rings, necklaces and coins thought to be worth roughly £2,000. They also had sentimental value.
In early June, Mr Jones asked his sister Debbie Williams to sell some of his valuables to help cover the costs of a potential care home but she could not find them, the court heard. McDowell was confronted by Ms Williams about the missing items but he denied taking anything.
In fact he had taken each item to The Exchange, a pawn shop in Wrexham city centre, and been given a total of £580 for everything he had stolen. The court heard the only item the family managed to get back was Mr Jones' pocket watch, as everything else had already been sold.
Ms Williams, speaking on behalf of her brother, gave a statement to the court that said McDowell had "abused the trust" her brother had placed in him and that he "preyed on [Stephen Jones'] vulnerable state" to make quick cash. The court heard that Ms Williams believes the defendant "always had a hidden agenda".
The court heard that the defendant himself gave the police a full confession, telling officers he did what he did because he found himself "in a bit of trouble" with a loan shark. He admitted taking "four or five items at a time".
The court heard that McDowell has a long criminal history - including thefts, burglaries and dishonesty. He has avoided getting into trouble since 2007.
Defending, Simon Kileen, accepted his client has "an appalling record". But he was keen to stress this "all stopped many years ago" and showed that McDowell "attempted to turn his life around" from his past as a "career criminal".
He appealed to the judge to suspend McDowell's custodial sentence. Mr Kileen told the court the defendant was "a man of limited means" who also struggles with his own health conditions including COPD.
Judge Simon Mills said the defendant's actions were "a dreadful thing to do" and said he hoped the "shame" of being caught stealing from a vulnerable neighbour was something he carried around for the rest of his life. The judge suspended the year-long prison sentence for the full term.
He was ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation to his victim.
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