Two men have been jailed for four years after a robbery in Llanrwst in which their victim had his jaw broken in three places.
Luke Jones, 20, of Pen y Gwndwn, Blaenau Ffestiniog, and 29-year-old Stephen Jones of no fixed address pleaded guilty at Caernarfon crown court to the ‘prolonged attack’ in Llanrwst on January 15, during which they used their feet as a weapon.
Richard Edwards, prosecuting, said their victim Ayron Williams, 18, apparently a regular user of cannabis, had phoned Luke Jones to arrange a purchase from him.
There was a scuffle and Luke Jones ripped off Mr Williams’s coat, hoodie and T-shirt. When the victim tried to run away he tripped and was then repeatedly kicked on the ground with Stephen Jones joining in the attack.
The two defendants then walked off with his wallet, mobile phone and items of clothing.
Surgery
Mr Williams needed surgery for two metal plates to be inserted in his jaw. It was alleged that Luke Jones had been overheard saying that Mr Williams “had set him up before and they were going to get him back”.
Mr Edwards said when Luke Jones was arrested a wallet and clothing were recovered and blood on his trainers matched that of the victim. A member of the public had found the mobile phone on the river bank next day and handed it to police.
The prosecutor said Luke Jones had convictions for 19 previous offences, some involving violence, and Stephen Jones had 95, mostly for theft and shoplifting, although he had served 12 weeks for assault.
Guilty pleas
Barrister Dafydd Roberts, for Luke Jones, said for he had been brave enough to plead guilty, knowing the outcome would be a custodial sentence. Being on remand had given him time to reflect and realise that something has to change.
He’d lived at Birmingham until he was10, his father had then kicked him out of home at the age of 14, and effectively he’d been homeless. In prison he’d worked in kitchens and hoped to obtain a qualification in catering which could help with employment on release.
Paulinus Barnes, for Stephen Jones, said his recollection about what had happened that night was clouded. He had an unenviable record but this was the first time he had been involved in robbery.
Passing sentence Judge Philip Harris-Jenkins said Mr Williams had been kicked repeatedly to the face and body while lying on the floor.
“This was a prolonged attack on the victim, the violence used was with a weapon – the feet of both of you – and there was serious injury,” he added.
“There’s also the fact there was a degree of planning.”
"A traumatic experience"
Detective Constable Katherine Culshaw at St Asaph CID welcomed the sentence and hoped it could bring a degree of satisfaction to the victims and witnesses who showed “great strength of character in what must have been a traumatic experience”.
She said “I am particularly pleased and grateful to the victim who suffered as a result of this violent act and was able to provide vital information which helped secure this conviction.”
see-http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/two-men-jailed-after-llanrwst-11039177
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