A man from Bridgend has been handed a hospital order after exploiting a vulnerable individual for his life-changing inheritance and waging a disturbing campaign of harassment against two women, Swansea Crown Court heard.
Jeffrey Houston, aged 28, purloined almost £40,000 from a man with learning difficulties who had inherited the sum from his late father. Court reports described how Houston, already known to authorities for previous violent offences, quickly gained the victim’s trust after meeting him in 2020 through mutual acquaintances. The victim, an adult in need of regular support though able to maintain some independence, had disclosed details of his inheritance to Houston. Within weeks, Houston had orchestrated the set-up of an online banking account and persuaded the vulnerable man to make a series of large payments.
The prosecution revealed that Houston spun stories of owing debts due to court proceedings in Manchester, repeatedly requesting “loans” from the victim. However, investigations found no evidence of such debts, highlighting the fictitious nature of Houston’s claims. In one striking example, the victim made six separate £1,000 transfers to Houston’s account in a single day. By the end of the month, Houston had stripped almost the entirety of the £40,000 inheritance, primarily feeding these funds into gambling.
It wasn’t until the victim mentioned the situation to a family member—his partner’s sister—that the extent of the exploitation became clear. She promptly informed the victim’s mother, who then alerted authorities. Despite being questioned by police and denying any knowledge of the victim’s vulnerability or any intention to exploit him, Houston was released under investigation.
The consequences for the victim and his family have been profound. In court statements, the victim expressed initial fondness and gratitude towards Houston, thinking him to be a trustworthy friend. Unfortunately, he failed to realise he was being systematically defrauded. The victim’s mother shared her distress at seeing her fears realised, stating her profound guilt and anguish at not having protected her son from such calculated manipulation. She described Houston’s acts as a devastating betrayal of her family’s trust.
Houston did not return a single penny of the stolen money, though the victim’s bank was able to reimburse the loss. No assets have been recovered from Houston, and he faces no proceeds of crime action.
While police were still investigating the inheritance theft, Houston’s behaviour escalated further. In late 2023, officers responding to concerns about a man sleeping rough encountered Houston camping in Broadlands, Bridgend. A PCSO provided him with outreach information and contact details, only to find herself the target of stalking. Over the ensuing period, Houston sent the officer a series of bizarre emails and drawings, insisting he was a psychic medium and adopting fanciful aliases such as “James Bond”. Some of these messages contained troubling references to her family, revealing that Houston had discovered personal information about her.
The harassment extended to a staff member at a community charity, who also received threats and witnessed Houston turning up at her workplace and neighbourhood, at times claiming to be “Harry Potter”. These disturbing actions led to two counts of stalking being added to his previous charge of fraud.
In court, defence submissions highlighted that Houston had since been diagnosed with a psychotic illness, though medical experts could not determine when his mental health issues began. Four doctors concluded Houston required psychiatric treatment, and he expressed willingness to engage with such services.
Judge Paul Thomas KC told the defendant he had cruelly preyed on a particularly defenceless man for personal gain and then continued with a campaign of harassment against women in his community. The judge stated that, had Houston not received a psychiatric diagnosis, he would be facing a custodial sentence “well over” two years. Instead, Houston was made subject to a hospital order under the Mental Health Act, prioritising treatment over incarceration.
This case brings into sharp relief ongoing challenges in protecting vulnerable people from exploitation and highlights the intersection between mental health and criminal culpability in the justice system. Community support services urge those with concerns about possible financial or emotional abuse of vulnerable individuals to reach out to authorities.