**Man Swears Innocence on Ill Mother’s Life in House Burglary Case—Court Finds Otherwise**
A Cardiff man who vowed on the life of his gravely ill mother that he was innocent has been exposed in court as a liar, following a dramatic house burglary and car theft in Pontardawe. The defendant, George Payne, 26, of Mallard Close, St Mellons, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after admitting to both burglary and handling stolen goods. Forensic and CCTV evidence played a key role in identifying the perpetrator.
The incident occurred on 4 February this year, when the victim—a local resident—left his home for an early morning dog walk before work. On his return, he was startled by the sight of bright headlights at the front of his property. As he moved around the side of his house, he reached the drive just in time to see his Audi A6 estate being driven away by thieves, tailed by another vehicle. Upon investigating further, he discovered that his car keys—which had been left on a table near the back door—were missing.
South Wales Police soon received his report and launched a pursuit when the stolen Audi was spotted heading through busy Swansea Valley traffic. Officers signalled for the car to stop, but Payne, behind the wheel, accelerated and forced his way through congestion at the Ynysforgan roundabout during rush hour, prompting police to abandon the chase for public safety. The stolen Audi was recovered later that same day, abandoned on Tudor Road in Treboeth.
Subsequent police work linked Payne to the burglary and theft, after forensic traces from the car matched him and CCTV from the area placed him at the scene, alongside a second unidentified man. Investigations also resulted in separate proceedings for a suspected accomplice. After intense efforts to locate him, Payne was found hiding at a Cardiff address. When the police arrived, he first attempted to flee and gave officers a false name, but was eventually apprehended.
A further search uncovered a key fob for a Renault Kadjar. Walking down the street and activating the device, officers located the corresponding vehicle, which had been taken from Pontarddulais on the same day as the Audi. The Renault had been fitted with false number plates; additional fake plates were also found in the car boot, but police confirmed the vehicle’s identity via its VIN.
Throughout his police interviews, Payne insisted he was not involved in the offences, going so far as to “swear on the life” of his critically ill mother. However, Judge Huw Rees rebuked Payne’s lack of remorse and clear deception, stating Payne had shown “the gall” not only to invade another person’s home but also to pledge his innocence on such a serious personal matter.
The court learned that Payne was no stranger to the law, possessing a significant criminal history, including public disorder, driving violations, handling stolen goods, perverting the course of justice, and involvement with drugs. His counsel, Jac Brown, described a troubled past and a transient life, adding that Payne was neither with his family nor his partner on the night of the burglary—having recently been ejected from his partner’s home. Brown conveyed Payne’s expressed shame and concern for his mother, but said his client insisted he had not taken a wallet left on the table near the car keys.
Judge Rees acknowledged Payne’s family circumstances with sympathy, but made it clear that his fate was now in the hands of prison authorities, who would decide whether Payne would be able to see his gravely ill mother again.
Factoring in Payne’s pleas, the judge applied a 15 per cent reduction to the sentence, resulting in 30 months’ imprisonment for burglary and a concurrent 10 months for handling stolen goods. Under current guidelines, Payne will serve half his sentence in custody before being released on licence for the remainder.
This case not only highlights the vital role of forensic and CCTV evidence in solving serious property crimes, but also the devastating impact such offences and subsequent lies can have—both on victims and their own families.