Rhys Watkins, 39, of Greenwood Street, Barry, broke into his mother's house after she died and stole her dead husband's car after being left out of their wills. Watkins boasted about his plan to take the car to other family members, telling one person, "soon my new car lol".
Cardiff Crown Court heard how Watkins had also searched on Google: "If my mum died and then her husband, can I contest the will?"
Stolen car and arrest
Watkins stole the Land Rover Discovery from his late mum's home on Atlantic Place, Barry, in January this year after she and his stepfather died within six months of each other. Police found his DNA on the window handle and tracked down the car to the TkMaxx car park at Culverhouse Cross. Officers in an unmarked vehicle parked next to the Land Rover and saw Watkins and another man approaching it.
Watkins ran off into traffic but was subsequently handcuffed and arrested. He told officers, "it's my home". Watkins continued: "This is not a burglary, I went to my mother's who has just died. It's all getting left to me and my brother. I went and got my bank card. I have done nothing wrong. I haven't done anything wrong, it's my mother's house."
A few days earlier, he had texted his brother saying: "I'm taking the keys for the conservatory, I'm having his car then. Be a nice little £2-2,5k each innit." Watkins also sent photos to his girlfriend's son and said: "Soon my new car lol."
Further offences and sentencing
Several months after taking the 2014 Discovery, in May this year, Watkins again tried to get into his late mother's house after asking her executor Ms Provis whether he could have her sofa. She agreed but said he was not allowed to enter the property himself. When she went to the property she found him outside but he maintained that he wanted the sofa and some bed sheets. He also asked for the TV on the wall but was told he couldn't have it. Watkins then went inside, tried to take the TV from the brackets and managed to put it down next to the sofa. He continued shouting and his friend pulled him away from the TV apologising for his behaviour. Mr Simkins told the court that Watkins left with only the bed sheets and after he had gone Ms Provis noticed a slight mark on the TV screen.
On June 17, Watkins was found hiding inside a hedge in Barry where he was arrested. He told officers that the last time he had been inside the Atlantic Place property was in 2025. Robert Simkins, prosecuting, detailed a total of 11 shop theft offences, and three assaults he had carried out on police officers. Watkins had stolen various items from a Texaco garage in Pontypridd, Tesco Express, OneStop and Co-op in Barry, and Sainsbury's in Penarth. Each of the thefts came to between £31 and £132 and were committed between March and June this year.
The court then heard how on May 14 police officers were called to an incident on Dunlin Court in Barry. When they arrived Watkins tried to run away and hide from the police. When he was tasered he fell to the floor and fell on an officer who hit their face on the ground. After trying to evade the police once more and being caught he punched another officer to the right side of his face and then ran directly into another officer causing her to scream out in pain.
The court heard that the 39-year-old had 16 previous convictions for 30 offences, including for assaulting a constable, burglary, theft, and drug trafficking. Joshua Scouller, representing Watkins, said his client was receiving drug and mental health help in prison, and said he was weaning himself off class A drugs. In mitigation, Mr Scouller also added that the burglary had been at a property which he used to live at.
Judge Shomon Khan said Watkins had not helped himself but committing a "spree of thefts" and "deeply unpleasant offences" against police officers. Judge Khan sentenced Watkins to 20 months of which he will serve up to half in custody before being released on licence.
