A father who punched a dog breeder as he stole a puppy worth £1,200 and his son who tried to take the blame have been jailed.
Thomas Stokes, 47, admitted hitting breeder Elizabeth Swain in the face at her home in Abergavenny as he pretended he wanted to buy a pug puppy for his daughter’s birthday.
In a victim impact statement read out at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday, the breeder said the incident turned her into “an absolute wreck”.
The court heard the incident occurred at her home Old Junction Cottage, which was “relatively isolated”, in October 2015.
Prosecutor Claire Wilkes said the breeder was trying to sell a litter of puppies from a dog called Poppy for £1,200 each.
She said Ms Swain received a phone call from a man asking if he could come to view the puppies.
When she asked him to come the next day he told her he was in a rush because he wanted to buy the dog as a surprise for his daughter’s birthday.
The court heard Thomas Stokes, who was living in a traveller site in Newport at the time, arrived just after 7pm.
Ms Wilkes said he picked up a puppy and asked if he could show it to his daughter in the car outside.
She added: “The complainant became suspicious because she had not seen a child in the car and thought the puppy was meant to be a surprise.”
The court heard Thomas Stokes became angry and swore at the breeder before trying to “barge” past her holding the puppy.
Ms Wilkes said he then punched the breeder in the face, causing bruising under her right eye, before she tripped and fell as she tried to chase him.
The defendant then drove off “at speed” in a Volkswagen Golf with the dog and Ms Swain called the police, who noted she was “clearly distressed”.
The prosecutor said: “The whole incident had a profound effect on her life.”
The court heard Ms Swain, 55, who previously suffered a brain injury, had always lived alone but decided to sell her house after the incident.
In a victim impact statement she said: “I no longer feel safe in my own home. It is obvious to everyone who knows me how vulnerable I have become since the attack.
“I went from being a confident and capable person who lived alone since I was 16 to an absolute wreck who is frightened of her own shadow.”
Martin Stokes, 23, was arrested in October 2015 in connection with the incident but no evidence was offered.
Thomas Stokes was arrested the following month and Ms Swain picked him out at an identity parade.
The father was initially charged with robbery but later pleaded guilty to theft and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Ms Wilkes said Martin Stokes then contacted the police in February 2016 and tried to take the blame for his father.
The court heard Thomas Stokes had 23 previous convictions and his son Martin had 30 previous convictions.
Jeffrey Jones, representing Thomas Stokes, said his client had a “change of heart” and arranged for the stolen puppy to be returned through a local priest.
He added his client had pleaded guilty, sparing Ms Swain from having to give evidence at a trial.
Mr Jones added: “The prospect of a jail sentence makes him frightened and upset for himself and others.”
Defendants in tears
Byron Broadstock, representing Martin Stokes, said his client had come under pressure from his family to take the blame for his father.
He said his client acted on “a misguided sense of loyalty” to his father and conceded: “It was ultimately a foolish thing to have done.”
Mr Broadstock told the court the defendant has two young children and his wife is due to have a baby next week.
He asked for a community sentence.
Judge Patrick Curran QC said: “The effect of this offence has been severe.”
Thomas Stokes was sentenced to five years in prison for theft and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Martin Stokes was sentenced to 10 months for perverting the course of justice.
The men shouted and cried as the sentences were read out.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/man-punched-dog-breeder-stole-11818040
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