Swansea,South Wales - Shop worker shot in face during attempted robbery in Swansea

David Janiszewski has been jailed for shooting a shop worker in the face during an attempted robbery in Morriston

A MASKED man who held up a corner store with an air pistol and shot the shop worker in the face has been jailed.

David Janiszewski fled the shop in Morriston empty-handed after the employee turned the tables on him, picking-up a can from the shelves and hitting him with it — an act of courage praised by the judge.

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Swansea Crown Court heard that Janiszewski went into the Vicarage Road Stores on the afternoon of February 25 dressed in dark clothes and wearing gloves and a scarf over his face — he produced a gun and pointed at the lone worker, shouting "I will shoot you, I will shoot you".

Janiszewski then pulled the trigger and shot the employee in the face, a plastic pellet from the weapon hitting the man in the cheek

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Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said that when the shop worker realised it was not a real gun he fought back, grabbing a can from the shelves and hitting his attacker before grappling with him and driving him from the premises.

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The court heard that the "local knowledge" of Morriston police officers led them to a house in Wychtree Street later that day — where they found the defendant hiding in a wardrobe.

Officers also recovered a bag of BB pellets — but the weapon itself has never been found.

Janiszewski, aged 24, of Wychtree Street, had previously pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, possessing a firearm in the commission of an offence, and actual bodily harm when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.

The court heard he has 28 previous convictions including for violence and theft.

Andrew Evans, for Janiszewski, said his client had been living with his family in Morriston but had moved back to his native Berkshire to get away from the "drug culture" in Swansea — however, early in 2016 he had returned to Swansea and had met-up once more with his old acquaintances and had ended up living in what the defendant described as a "crack house" in Morriston.

Judge Peter Heywood said the victim had shown "tremendous courage" in grappling with the attacker and should be commended for his behaviour — he sentenced Janiszewski to four years, half of which he will spend in prison.

Read more: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Shop-worker-shot-face-attempted-robbery-Swansea/story-29070258-detail/story.html#ixzz45BJal8LM 
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