'Irritating' partner drove guard to theft

The Securicor van was abandoned with £235,000 still inside

Cardiff Crown Court has heard how a security guard went on the run with £227,000 from his own van.

Police suspected Allen Mills would flee to one of the world's exotic hotspots to spend the loot.

But instead Securicor driver Mills, 28, booked into a £70-a-night Holiday Inn Express at Preston, Lancashire.

Police burst into his modest room after a tip-off and found Mills surrounded by holdalls stashed with used banknotes.

A police helicopter joined in the investigation

And when he was quizzed by detectives Mills told them he carried out the spur-of-the-moment theft because his co-driver was "irritating" him.

His colleague David Morgan was making a collection of cash from a business in South Wales when Mills drove off in the white armoured van.

He drove to waste ground near his home in Caerphilly where he dumped the van leaving £235,000 inside.

The court heard the uniformed guard called his brother Paul Mills, 25, and asked him to pick him up in his car.

Prosecutor Christopher Williams said the two men drove 200 miles to Preston, choosing the town at random.

Mr Williams said: "On the way Mills stopped off to buy holdalls and a change of clothing.

"The money was in £25,000 bags and he transferred it to the holdalls."

Police sealed off the area

Mills was arrested the next day and all but £3,000 of the cash was recovered.

The court heard Mills also bought himself a portable TV so he he could watch news programmes about his daring theft.

Mills told police he stole the money on the spur of the moment because his colleague's conversation was "irritating".

Charles Cook, defending, said: "He had been off work for four months and didn't expect to be driving on his first day back.

"His colleague's conversation had a fraying effect on him."

Mills, of Caerphilly, south Wales, admitted theft and was jailed for two and a half years.

Judge David Wynn Morgan said Mills had committed a grave breach of Securicor's trust.

He told him: "It seems you did not think about this crime or you would have arranged a more sophisticated plan."

Paul Mills admitted impeding his brother's arrest and handling stolen money. He was jailed for six months.