Brecon man Luke Watts jailed for robbing his own mum

Luke Watts, 22, told his mum that he didn't care that they would both die, adding "I'll burn the house down".

He had cut the wires to the landline phones in the house to stop his mum from calling the police or her husband.

The Brecon man was sentenced to 32 months in prison after pleading guilty to robbery, damaging property and having a knife in a public place on Thursday, September 5.

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The pair had argued the previous evening at their home after Watts had been challenged by his mum about his drinking and drug use before telling him that he needed to find somewhere else to live. He returned the next day but was told to leave.

Rebecca Watts went to go inside her house when she saw her son stood in the doorway looking "intimidating with his chest puffed out and arms spread wide in a stance", Mold Crown Court heard on Friday, October 4.

Mrs Watts then noticed that her son was holding a six-inch blade boning knife.

"I'll tell you how this will f***ing go" he told her before demanding the keys to her BMW but she refused and tried to push past her son.

"Yes, you are," he said. "You're going to get your card and you're going to the garage to get cash out".

The victim's first point of call was to dial 999 on the landline phone but she noticed that the line had been cut.

"I'm not that stupid," her son said.

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Mrs Watts then took a knife from the kitchen to protect herself but then noticed that her son had intentionally cut himself.

She tried to call the emergency services using her smartwatch, but her son ripped it off her wrist before they jostled with each other.

"Just give me the money and the Beemer keys," Watts demanded. "I don't give a f*** if we both die. I'll burn this house down."

Watts’ mum then transferred £300 into his bank account over the phone and he walked away with the knife in his bag.

Mrs Watts went to another landline phone in the house to try to phone the police but found the wire had also been cut. Her smartwatch was located undamaged in a hedge at bus stop in Brecon and the knife had been thrown into a churchyard.

Watts was arrested three hours later by South Wales Police.

Jemma Gordon, defending, told the court: "Prison is the best place for him at the moment. He’s finding it beneficial for him. He recognises the seriousness of what he’s done. He is remorseful.

Drug addiction

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by addiction, the following organisations may be able to help:

• Kaleidoscope Powys on 01686 601422 or 01686 207111
• DAN 24/7 on 0808 808 2234
• Powys Young Person’s Substance Use Service on 0300 777 2258

• Talk to Frank on 0300 1236600

"There is longstanding history with drug addiction which has exacerbate his mental health issues.

"He would like to rebuild a relationship with his mother, and he recognises that will take time. A restraining order will probably be beneficial for both parties."

Judge Rhys Rowlands told Watts that it was a "very serious" incident which clearly crossed the custody threshold adding that prison was "probably the best place for you at the moment".

"The relationship was very strained and had broken down," the judge said. "You were causing them [his parents] a great deal of worry by your drug addiction.

"She feared understandably that she was going to be stabbed.

"Again, you wanted to be given the car and you didn’t care if the two of you died. Frightened, she told you she’d transfer money over a phone.

"You're still very young, this is your first experience of prison, and you now recognise how badly you’ve behaved to your parents.

"I do hope reconciliation will come about and it will be up to you. I’m sure your parents want nothing but the best for you."

Watts, of no fixed abode but appeared in court from HMP Berwyn near Wrexham, was told not to approach his parents’ home for five years as part of a restraining order.