Bridgend,South Wales - Armed robber caught because he licked the Sellotape he used to tie up his victims

Gavin Williams was caught by his saliva on Sellotape he used to tie up victims.

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AN armed robber was caught when his saliva was found on Sellotape he used to tie up victims during a supermarket raid.

Gavin Williams, 35, chomped the sticky tape into strips as he tied up women workers at a Co-op store.

But a court heard forensics experts nailed Gavin Williams for the crime when they traced his DNA from saliva left on the tape.

A court heard Gavin Williams and an accomplice ambushed the manager and two women workers aged 57 and 58, at the Co-op store when they arrived for work at 6am.

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Prosecutor John Lloyd told how the two masked men were armed with a crowbar and a lump hammer and "terrified" the workers.

Mr Lloyd said: "The manager Rob Wilson, 44 and assistant Susan Evans were threatened and told to go inside where they were ushered into a back room with the other member of staff, Wendy Phillips.

"They were ordered to get down on their knees and put their hands out and the defendant bit off lengths of Sellotape to bind their wrists together - leaving his DNA behind."

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Cardiff Crown Court heard Gavin Williams ordered Mr Wilson into the store's manager's office and forced him to open a safe and stole £2,500 in cash and a computer.

One of the workers, Mrs Evans, told police: "They were shouting and swearing at us and herded us into the back office, pushing us and shouting for us to get down on our knees with our backs to the door.

"I was absolutely terrified. I thought they might do anything."

Mr Lloyd told the court: "Mrs Phillips corroborated her account and Mr Wilson said he was shocked and scared and worried about the women's safety as he saw the two men 'running towards us with weapons'.

Van driver Gavin Williams, who had previously been jailed for six years for drug dealing, refused to name his accomplice and used his employer's vehicle to get away from the robbery in Pontycymmer, near Bridgend.

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He was identified by staff as "the one who kept waving the hammer around".

Kevin Seal, defending, said Gavin Williams became involved in robbery to pay off a £7,000 drug debt.

Mr Seal said: "He fears, as many do, repercussions if he identifies the other man with him."

Gavin Williams of Bridgend, admitted robbery and was jailed for six years.

Judge Neil Bidder QC told him: "You were both armed and there was a clear and obviously implicit threat of serious harm to the three people in the store.

"All three and particularly the two women, were absolutely terrified by the threats and violent behaviour.

"You came armed and disguised and planned to use your employer's van as a getaway vehicle."

Read more: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Armed-robber-caught-licked-Sellotape-used-tie/story-28757007-detail/story.html#ixzz40VuDcZr5 
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