Burglar swore on gravely ill mum's life he was innocent

A BURGLAR who broke into a man’s house and stole his car keys while the victim was out walking his dog before work later swore on his mother's life that he was innocent, a court has heard.

- JASON EVANS Court and crime reporter

Swansea Crown Court heard that George Payne was identified as the person responsible for the burglary and theft by CCTV and forensic evidence.

Craig Jones, prosecuting, told the court that early on the morning of February 4 this year the complainant in the case took his dog for a walk before going to work, returning to his Pontardawe home around an hour later.

The court heard the dog walker accessed his back garden and that as he did so he noticed bright car lights at the front of his property.

He then realised the lights were coming from his car.

The court heard the man walked down the path at the side of the property and arrived in time to see his Audi A6 estate being driven away followed by another vehicle. The victim then realised that his car keys were missing from the table near the back door where he had left them.

The burglary was reported to police and a short time later the stolen car was spotted by a roads policing unit heading down the Swansea Valley on Clydach Road.