Layne Perry denies swindling three pensioners of £250k

Layne Perry has denied 26 counts of fraud and theft

A man accused of defrauding a 71-year-old widow of £98,000 has denied taking control of her bank accounts.

Layne Perry, 39, from Bridgend, is accused of 26 counts of fraud and theft against three south Wales pensioners.

He told Cardiff Crown Court that Mrs Jones's credit card and loan applications were none of his business.

He admitted he helped her with "some" applications but he told the court he now he regretted his involvement.

It is claimed the former soldier, who lived in a rented caravan in Trecco Bay, Porthcawl, told all three pensioners he was a wealthy businessman with interests in gold and targeted them for their assets.

He is accused of swindling all three of a total of nearly £250,000.

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Charles Gwilliam, 69, claims Mr Perry also asked him and his wife Val to live with him at another country property, Kemys Folley in Newport.

The £1.8m house is one of the most expensive properties in Wales and has featured on the Channel 4 architecture series Grand Designs.

The jury was told Mr Perry befriended retired hairdresser Sharan Jones from Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, in late 2018 after the death of her husband the previous year.

Mr Perry's sister Keira is Mrs Jones's son Theo's partner.

Cardiff Crown Court heard that Layne Perry swindled three pensioners

He denied telling Mrs Jones he was going to buy a large country estate in Gloucestershire and asking her to live there with him.

Mrs Jones said: "He cared so much for me. I was going to have a new life in Gloucestershire.

"In my mind's eye in was like something off the telly. I embraced it. I thought I'd have company for the rest of my life."

She said Mr Perry took control of her bank accounts which her late husband had dealt with during his lifetime.

"[Mr Perry] told me not to worry, he would take my letters [bank statements] unopened, I just gave them to him.

"I didn't know how to use internet banking - Layne said he would set it up. He said 'You don't have to do nothing, just look after yourself.'

"He just took over everything."

But Mr Perry denied ever promising her a new life. He told the court he did not have control of her accounts and did not take bank statements from her letter box.

Describing her as "savvy businesswoman," Mr Perry said she could use a computer and bought one to "keep track" of her finances.

He told the court Mrs Jones decided to take out loans and credit cards to help her son Theo and his girlfriend Keira.

He said they were in serious financial difficulties and needed cash after setting up a beauty business in Cardiff which was struggling.

Layne Perry has denied 26 counts of fraud and theft

The defendant said Mrs Jones's son had "two or three homes" repossessed and had experienced difficulties with child maintenance payments.

Mr Perry said Mrs Jones "knew what she was doing and why she was applying for [loans and credit cards]".

He said: "Looking back I shouldn't have helped her. But bailiffs were coming to the door to repossession property."

He told the court it was agreed he would use the credit cards and give Mrs Jones cash up to the limit of the cards.

That cash would then be given to Theo to help him avoid his creditors, he said.

Mr Perry also denied offering to go into a business deal involving gold with Mr Gwilliam or taking out loans in his name.

He did admit showing Mr Gwilliam a gold bar and bags of cash in the boot of his car.

Mr Perry said: "It's been my downfall, I'm too open with people."

The trial continues.