On July 5, 2024, Richard Jones, 50, murdered his son's girlfriend, Sophie Evans, in her home on Bigyn Road, Llanelli, before driving away to go shopping.

A jury at Swansea Crown Court found Jones guilty of murder after deliberating for less than three hours. He had arrived at Miss Evans' home at 9.20am, supposedly to "fix the drains." Upon arrival, Sophie, having just showered after the school run, opened the door and let him in.

Jones believed that Sophie and his son Jamie Davies (who was in prison) were "scamming" him for money, leading to a confrontation where he "flipped" and lost his temper. The details of what transpired in the 40 minutes that followed remain unclear, but it is known that he brutally assaulted her and subsequently strangled her to death.

After the attack, Jones placed a set of keys on Sophie’s naked body and drove to Llanelli Town Centre, where he ordered a new debit card and bought a custard slice and tuna roll, before returning to his home in Burry Port.

Jones later contacted his ex-partner, Tracey Thompson, claiming he had "sorted" the issue with Sophie. During their conversation, he referred to them as "scamming thieves," and, when quizzed about what he meant by "erased," he acknowledged that he had killed her.

His disclosures prompted police to search for him following reports received from his ex-partner. After an extensive search, he was arrested at the entrance to Pembrey County Park later that evening. Inside his car, authorities found handwritten notes indicating he believed he had been scammed and had dealt with it himself.

In the meantime, police discovered Sophie's body at her home, lying face-down on the kitchen floor with a towel supporting her head. She exhibited extensive bruising, and pathologist Dr. Edward Williams confirmed that the cause of death was compression of the neck due to strangulation.

Jones spent four days in hospital after his arrest, during which he maintained that he was the victim of a scam. Despite several police interviews, he largely refused to comment but acknowledged losing control during his confrontation with Sophie.

During the trial, Jones admitted to manslaughter but denied murder. The prosecution argued that he acted knowingly when he killed Sophie. His barrister contended that although he accepted causing her death, the trial's focus was on understanding why he did it.

The jury ultimately convicted Jones of murder. Judge Geraint Walters scheduled sentencing for March 3. Following the verdict, a member of the public gallery shouted "scumbag" as Jones was led away.

Detective Superintendent Gareth Roberts expressed relief at the conviction, emphasizing the senselessness of the crime and honoring Sophie's memory as a beloved mother and friend. He remarked that the verdict provides some comfort to her family, knowing that Jones has been removed from society.