**Burglar Jailed After Boasting of Robbing Elderly Woman and Wearing Her Jewellery**
A Cardiff man has been sentenced to a prison term exceeding four-and-a-half years following a string of offences, including a violent assault and a burglary targeting a frail 92-year-old woman. David Large, aged 42, not only admitted breaking into the pensioner’s home and stealing her sentimental jewellery but reportedly boasted to his partner about the crime while flaunting the stolen pieces around his neck.
The court heard that Large’s spree of criminal activity occurred during a particularly tumultuous period in September last year. Earlier that same evening, he subjected his partner to a disturbing attack, punching her repeatedly before holding a kitchen knife to her throat and threatening serious harm. After being persuaded to leave, he stole her mobile phone and a sum of £30 as he exited.
Describing the break-in, Prosecutor Nuhu Gobir detailed how, hours after assaulting his partner, Large smashed a window at her property in Barry to re-enter and declare that he had “robbed an old woman.” Shockingly, he wore the elderly victim’s jewellery around his neck and even suggested that his partner pawn it. Deeply unsettled, she refused, later telling authorities the revelation had left her feeling physically unwell.
The following morning, the elderly burglary victim awoke to discover her front door ajar and several treasured items missing, including the engagement ring given to her by her late husband. The impact of the crime on the woman, who valued the jewellery for its deep sentimental connection, cannot be understated.
Investigations rapidly linked Large to the scene through CCTV evidence and his DNA. Further scrutiny by South Wales Police revealed that, at the time of these events, Large was already on bail, having previously taken part in two burglaries at a B&Q store in Caerphilly earlier that September. In those incidents, he and another accomplice made off with over £4,000 worth of goods, including power tools and security doorbells.
Appearing before Cardiff Crown Court, Large pleaded guilty to a series of charges: three counts of burglary, actual bodily harm, theft, and criminal damage. The court noted his extensive criminal background, totalling more than 100 offences, including ten prior burglary convictions.
The sentencing judge, Eugene Egan, highlighted the severity and callousness of Large’s actions, handing down a total custodial sentence of 56 months. The judge also reflected on the vulnerability of the elderly victim and the lasting trauma such crimes impose.
In his defence, barrister Zoe Laugharne presented a picture of a man shaped by a troubled background. Reporting that her client had endured violence in early life and had struggled with longstanding issues of drug and alcohol misuse, she asked the court to consider these mitigating factors. Nonetheless, Judge Egan remained firm in his condemnation of Large’s repeated disregard for the law and for the well-being of his victims.
Cases like this being brought before the courts highlight ongoing challenges for law enforcement and support services, particularly when crimes involve vulnerable members of the community. The story is also a potent reminder of the long-term damage inflicted by recidivist offenders, especially when their acts carry both emotional and physical trauma for their victims.
As the local community responds to news of the sentence, there will likely be calls for greater protection for the elderly and vulnerable. The court’s decision, and the details revealed, serve as a stark warning about the dangers posed by persistent offenders, as well as an opportunity for reflection on what support and interventions might help prevent such harm in the future.