A NEWPORT mother turned her "horrible liar" son in to the police after she found out he was stealing her money.

Colleen Thomas said she is so ashamed of son Rhys Morgan she disowned him.

Morgan, aged 29, of Chepstow Road, Newport, was on Friday jailed for nine months for stealing more than £3,000 from his mother and a woman who helped him when he was homeless.

Cardiff crown court heard Morgan, of Monnow Way, Bettws, Newport, admitted 19 offences involving theft, forgery and money laundering. Judge Roderick Denyer called them "mean, nasty, rip-off offences".

Speaking after the case, Ms Thomas, of Monnow Way, Bettws, said she discovered her son had stolen from her when she tried to withdraw cash and found she was overdrawn.

Ms Thomas, 52, who worked for mental health charity MIND, said: "It was terrible, I was so shocked. It's difficult for me now because I have kind of disowned him and any feelings I had at the time are gone.

"But I was terribly disappointed, just totally devastated. I feel ashamed."

Three days before the thefts came to light, Ms Thomas threw her son out of her home after he ran up a £495 bill on her mobile phone.

She has not spoken to Morgan since, and yesterday said she felt he had betrayed her, branding him "a horrible liar".

"In my head, and probably in my heart, he can't hurt me anymore," she said, adding she would not take her son back when he is released from prison.

"He is very believable, he is a very good liar and therefore if I let him anywhere near me I would fall for it."

Prosecutor Heath Edwards said Morgan lived with his mother last December and January, but the relationship was turbulent and he was asked to leave.

When Ms Morgan discovered her son had been stealing from her, she told police. Morgan admitted forging his mother's name, claiming it was with her permission.

Terri Skeete allowed Morgan to stay while he was on bail, but he forged two cheques belonging to her for £1,000 and £800, transferring the money into his account.

He had previous convictions for stealing from an employer and interfering with mail.

Hywel Hughes, mitigating, said: "At the time he was desperate and used the money to obtain accommodation. The offences arose out of need, not greed, and there has been genuine remorse."