A FATHER and son have been jailed today after a pug dog worth £1,200 was stolen from an Abergavenny woman.

Thomas Stokes, 47, and Martin Stokes, 23, were charged after a black pug was stolen from the home of Elizabeth Swain in Abergavenny on Monday, October 26 last year.

Both of Chesterfield Road, Mansfield, Nottingham, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court today for sentencing. Thomas Stokes previously pleaded guilty to theft and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. His son Martin Stokes pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.

The court heard Ms Swain was selling pugs from a litter of seven at the value of £1,200. She had three puppies remaining and received a phone call from the senior stokes asking if he could come to her house to view the puppies as he wanted to buy one for his daughter's birthday.

Claire Wilkes, prosecuting, said Ms Swain showed two men the puppies in her kitchen. She said she became suspicious when the two men who were holding three puppies between them didn't seem to want to put the puppies down on the floor.

Ms Wilkes said Stokes senior wanted to take the puppies to the car to show his daughter and became aggressive and swore at Ms Swain when she told him to leave the puppies there.

He swore at Ms Swain and said "Am I not (expletive) good enough for you?"

The court heard he barged past Ms Swain still holding two puppies and punched her in the face. The other man was holding one of the puppies.

Ms Wilkes said Ms Swain was 'shocked' and lost her footing, she then ran after the two men and fell outside hurting her face.

She initially believed the men had taken three puppies but later found two puppies outside who had escaped.

Stokes senior was identified by the victim in an ID parade and was arrested in November last year.

The court heard, his son, in February of this year, told police that he was one of the men who went to the house but denied culpability.

In a victim impact statement Ms Swain, 55, said the incident had a 'profound' affect on her life.

Ms Swain said she has gone from being a 'confident and capable person' living on her own since she was 16 years old to an 'absolute wreck frightened of her own shadow.'

The court heard, Ms Swain had previously suffered a brain trauma and this incident has affected her treatment for that.

The court heard, Stokes senior was living with travellers at a caravan site in Newport at the time of the offence as he had separated from his wife.

He has 23 previous convictions for 47 offences including possession of an offensive weapon and fraud.

His son has 13 previous convictions for 36 offences including shoplifting.

Jeffrey Jones, defending Thomas Stokes, said his client prior to his arrest was partly involved in arranging the dog to be returned through a local priest.

He said while living on a caravan site in Newport, Stokes senior, did 'give in to peer ideas' and now 'regrets' it.

Byron Broadstock, defending the younger Stokes, who is set to become a father for the third time in eight days time, said his client was 'foolish' in his actions and did so out of loyalty to his father.

Judge Patrick Curran QC sentenced Thomas Stoke to five years in prison and Martin Stoke to 10 months in prison.

Stokes junior began crying when his father was sent down.

Judge Curran said from the facts Thomas Stokes has 'clearly planned' to steal puppies for financial gain.

He said: "But you were prepared to use any degree of force you found necessary if you were met with resistance."

He said the theft had a 'severe' affect on the victim who was already 'vulnerable.'

Detective Constable Mark Price, who led the investigation said: “This was one of the lowest forms of criminal behaviour I have had to deal with. The offenders have gone the victim’s home on the pretence of buying a puppy and when it was evident that the victim was alone and vulnerable, she was assaulted and the pug was stolen.

“The pugs are the victim’s life and she bravely decided that the criminals were not getting away with it. In the struggle, she was punched in the face, requiring hospital treatment.

“After everything she has been through, the victim has shown real conviction and pure courage to see this through to court. Without her support, we would not have been able to see this result today. Thankfully the pug is also now back at home, where he belongs.

“Today the judge has handed down sentences which show the seriousness of the offence and I hope it shows that criminals that stoop this low will always get what they deserve”.