Financial problems following the death of his wife led a Haverfordwest man to create a false letter to defraud his elderly neighbours.

Stuart Ronald James Barry, 45, of Withybush Road, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates court last week.

The bench heard that Barry produced a letter with a Welsh Rugby Union heading that stated his son had been selected to join a tour of Ireland with the welsh youth team, in December 2015.

He told his elderly neighbours that while the WRU would spay £3,000 to subsidise each player, a further £1,500 was needed to enable his son to take part, which he could not afford.

Barry then used the cash, which his neighbours had saved for a holiday, to pay off his own personal debts.

The court was told that Barry’s mother had repaid the full amount to the couple in question.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, said: “Clearly there was an amount of planning as he backed it up with a document.”

He added: “Clearly it was a nasty offence.”

Helen Wallace, defending, said Barry’s wife had recently died at the time of the offence, and he had been her carer for four years.

She said: “He was in serious financial difficulty, due to raising his son on his own and his own medical problems.

“He had hoped to inherit money due to his wife dying, but that money did not come through. He panicked.”

She added: “This is a man who has made a one-off mistake which is never to be repeated. He was desperate and bereaved.

“He is deeply remorseful and ashamed about it.”

Magistrates imposed a six month community order with 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and an £80 fine.

He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £60 surcharge.