CRUEL: Mother steals pounds 8,000 given for sick child.

A HEARTLESS mother stole pounds 8,000 raised by well-wishers to send her disabled child for therapy in Florida swimming with dolphins.

But she walked free from court yesterday after a judge heard that the boy could not manage without her.

Irene Dykes, 40, set up The Jordy Fund, named after her six-year-old son, so he could spend two weeks at a specialist care centre in Miami.

Donations flooded in from kindly people touched by the lad's plight.

Firefighters, ambulancemen, pub staff and customers all helped.

In seven months the fund reached pounds 7,487 - more than twice the pounds 3,600 needed for the trip - but Dykes carried on collecting, Judge John Prosser was told.

Christopher Williams, prosecuting, said: "She still wrote to the Salvation Army requesting money for air tickets. They cost pounds 700 but she asked for more than pounds 1,000."

The Salvation Army gave her pounds 1,250. Yet four months later a check showed The Jordy Fund was nearly empty.

"Instead of using the money on her son she stole it and spent it," said Mr Williams.

"One cheque for pounds 150 from The Jordy Fund was for fishing tackle. When police investigated the account they found that instead of more than pounds 8,000 there was just pounds 2 in it."

Paul Long, boyfriend of mother-of-five Dykes, "bullied her" for finance, Mr Williams told Cardiff Crown Court. He added: "She gave him the money before he then left her for another woman."

Dykes, of Llangybi, near Usk, admitted theft and was given a 15-month jail sentence suspended for two years.

Judge Prosser said: "Goodwill and human loving interest by all these people who gave you money came to nought.

"If there had been evidence of you spending the money on yourself I would have sent you straight to prison."

Jordy is one of only 12 children in the world suffering from ATRX syndrome. He was born severely disabled and at the age of three was unable to walk, talk or even sit up unaided.

Karl Williams, defending Dykes, said she contacted the Dolphin Human Therapy Centre in Florida. He added: "The therapy is beneficial because the creatures can communicate with children like Jordy.

"She is distressed and ashamed for what she did. If she is jailed then Jordy will suffer for it."