A MAN who claimed to be a former RAF flight lieutenant to land a job advertised in Lady magazine, as a live-in carer for a retired Army captain in Tongham, was jailed for 18 months for theft last Friday. David Cox, 55, of Stangley Lane, East Ham village, The Wirral. had his credentials shot down in flames after he was found to have stolen two rings worth £2,200 from the wife of the man he was looking after, who was wheelchair-bound. It was discovered he had only held a lowly rank in the RAF and had 55 previous convictions for dishonesty dating back over 40 years. Matthew Pascall, prosecuting, told the court that Cox went to live in the cottage next to the couple's home in February. Mr Pascall said: "Mrs Dobbie went away for a short break and came back on July 12 to discover her ruby diamond ring and also a diamond solitaire ring were missing." The following day she noticed in the cottage there were two drink coasters which belonged to the main house. Her suspicions were aroused and she contacted the police, who searched the cottage and arrested Cox. He produced the rings from a suitcase and said he had taken them in a moment of madness after spotting them when he went into Mrs Dobbie's bedroom to close the windows. David Castle, defending Cox, who pleaded guilty to burglary, said the defendant, who had only risen to the rank of senior aircraftsman in the RAF, embellished his record so he would have a better chance of securing employment . Recorder Mr Vivian Chapman told Cox: "There are a number of aggravating factors. Firstly you infiltrated yourself into Mr and Mrs Dobbie's house by deception, by pretending to be a retired army officer. "Secondly, your job as carer for Mr Dobbie put you in a position of trust, which you grossly abused. "Thirdly, although the ring has been returned, Mrs Dobbie feels devastation and betrayal. Also you have a long history of offences of dishonesty. "I think you are a man who simply doesn't know the difference between truth and falsehood."
