Former royal harpist was 'pressured' into crime (From South Wales Argus)

Former royal harpist was 'pressured' into crime

10:20am Wednesday 2nd December 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share

AN EBBW Vale-born former Royal harpist accused of burgling four houses told police she was pressured into crime by a man who threatened to expose her as a "druggie" if she did not co-operate.

Jemima Phillips, 28, told police she had a drug problem and was helping her boyfriend, William Davies, tackle his addiction when his "riff raff" friends at an addicts day centre in Gloucester heard about her Royal connections.

Phillips, who played at Prince Charles' wedding with the Duchess of Cornwall, is on trial at Gloucester crown court accused of joining 41-year-old Davies in burgling four houses in the Forest of Dean in May.

Phillips, of Mork, St Briavels, near Chepstow, and Davies, of Grove St, Cheltenham, deny the burglaries.

Phillips admits using a stolen building society passbook to try withdraw £500 from the Nationwide in Monmouth.

It was this offence, she told police, she was pressured into by the man she met at the day centre.

She thought he would damage her career by telling the newspapers she was a drug user unless she complied.

DC Adam Jago told the jury Phillips was arrested after the last burglary on May 28 when she was stopped with much of the stolen property in her car. Davies was with her.

She said she thought the goods - including a flat screen Panasonic TV, computers and mobile phones - belonged to Davies.

Phillips said she had got involved with drugs two years earlier through a previous boyfriend but had detoxed only to start using again after meeting Davies.

Davies has pleaded guilty to dishonestly handling the property stolen in each of the four raids.

Phillips denies an alternative charge of dishonestly assisting in the retention or disposal of the stolen goods for Davies' benefit.

Proceeding.

• Print
• Email
• Share