Aberdare landlord hid dead regular's body in bedroom to avoid losing trade

A publican from Aberdare appears to have proved that old maxim after he hid the body of a regular who died in his pub's toilet in an upstairs bedroom so that he didn't miss out on a weekend's trade.

Jason Chidgey, 29, found Mark Howells dead in the toilet of the Boot Hotel before enlisting the help of the pub's cleaner, Audra Rees, to help him move the body to an upstairs bedroom.

Chidgey then went on to assuage the fears of friends of Mr Howells who became worried due to his absence, saying he'd seen him and that he was fine.

Prosecutor Owen Williams said "He did so to trade over the busy weekend period.

"He didn't want the body to be found until after the weekend was over.

"From Friday to Monday Chidgey carried out his business as if nothing untoward had occurred.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard that on the day of Howell's funeral Mrs Rees went to a police station to inform the police of what had actually happened.

Chidgey pleaded guilty to perversion of the course of justice and was sentenced to fifteen months in prison.

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