AN AFGHAN war veteran got an army pal to give a DNA sample to avoid paying child support.
Gareth Lloyd, 59, had split from his partner Leigh Sage when she announced she was and he told her to “get rid of it”.
Afghan war veteran Gareth Lloyd, 59, got an army pal to help him avoid paying child supportCredit: WNS
Phillip Jones (L) and Gareth Lloyd (R) were both given suspended prison sentencesCredit: Marc Giddings
The pair met in the military 20 years ago and were so close they were described as ‘brothers’Credit: WNS
After the baby girl was born, she reported him to the Child Maintenance Service but Lloyd denied knowing Ms Sage.
Lloyd, who saw service in , and during his 35-year army career, was ordered to take a DNA test to prove he wasn’t the father.
But he sent army pal Philip Jones, 61, to the laboratory to give a sample of saliva instead.
Prosecutor Harry Dickens said: “A man purporting to be Gareth Lloyd gave the sample in Llandaff, .
“It later transpired that the man who attended the laboratory as Gareth Lloyd was Mr Jones.
“Ms Sage was shown a photograph from the laboratory and said she did not recognise the man.”
Lloyd’s was checked and investigators found he had phoned Jones shortly before and after he gave the sample.
Cardiff Crown heard the pair had met in the 20 years ago and were so close they were described as “brothers”.
Jones was arrested and gave a DNA sample which matched the one given to the laboratory.
Lloyd later handed himself into and a DNA test proved he was the child’s father.
At that point Lloyd owed £12,426.10p in child support, a debt he’s almost cleared.
The court heard Jones was the “executor” of the fraud but it was for his friend’s benefit and neither considered the effect on the mother and child.
Both men, who live close to each other in Cardiff, admitted conspiracy to defraud between January and August 2023.
Lloyd, who worked at an Army Recruitment office in Cardiff, was given a 12-month suspended sentence and ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work in the community.
Lloyd had split with his partner Leigh Sage when she was announced she was pregnantCredit: WNS
Gareth Lloyd at Cardiff crown courtCredit: Marc Giddings
Jones was given a four-month suspended sentence.
The pair, who appeared in court in matching regimental ties, are both “deeply remorseful” and regretted their behaviour.
Judge Vanessa Francis told “lead conspirator” Lloyd that his actions were intended to avoid responsibility to pay child support.
She said: “As a result of the agreement between you, which had some degree of sophistication, the DNA test came back and was not the DNA of the child involved.
“That was a lie, you knew it was a lie. You were only thinking of yourself, not about your former partner and the child you fathered.”
The judge said both men had served their country with honour but had not behaved honourably toward the mother and child.
The court heard Lloyd has regular contact with his daughter and it was Ms Sage’s wish that he should “play a part in her child’s life”.
Both men refused to comment as they left court.
Lloyd was given a 12-month suspended sentenceCredit: WNS
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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