Swansea,South Wales - Armed raider burst into house, held knife to mum's throat and then stabbed family dog

Jamie Richards was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years at Swansea Crown Court

AN armed robber who held a kitchen knife to a terrified mum's throat in her own house and slashed the family dog in the stomach before going on the run has been jailed.

Jamie Richards posted messages on Facebook while at large making threats against the family that "snitches get stitches".

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Swansea Crown Court heard that at just before midnight on February 26 Richards entered his victim's house in the Ravenhill area of Swansea via an unlocked front door, his face hidden by a scarf and hooded top.

He then confronted a number of family members, demanding money and saying he was going to "stab the lot of you".

Janet Gedrych, for the prosecution, said he grabbed his victim by her nightie and bundled her into the kitchen of the property where he held the knife to her throat and again demanded cash.

The barrister said the family dog was in the kitchen and attacked the intruder, biting his trouser leg — Richards slashed the animal in the stomach with the weapon.

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He then began apologising that he was in the wrong house, and made-off.

Police were called and searched the area but the defendant - who told the family he was called "Jamo" - could not be found.

The court heard that Richards was subsequently identified and in the following weeks officers searched a number of addresses of friends and acquaintances of the fugitive in Swansea but he could not be found.

During his time on the run he posted messages on his Facebook page including one saying "snitches get stitches".

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Richards later sent a text message to police saying he was not going to hand himself in — but on March 23 he did just that.

Richards, aged 25, of Gerald Street, Hafod, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and to possessing an offensive weapon when he appeared in court via videolink.

The court heard Richards has 19 convictions for some 44 offences including a number for violence beginning with possession of an offensive weapon committed when he was aged just 13 and including two batteries — one on a former partner — and an armed robbery when he had held a knife to a shop worker's neck in a Swansea convenience store and stolen cash from the till. He also has convictions for theft, burglary, driving while unfit through drink or drugs, and dangerous driving.

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Carina Hughes, for Williams, said her client was realistic that there was on "limited mitigation" she could advance on his behalf, and she conceded the defendant had an unenviable record.

Judge Paul Thomas QC said Richards had been "out of control" on the night in question, and had subjected his victim to a terrifying ordeal.

The judge sentenced Richards to a total of nine-and-a-half years in prison.

The court was told the dog Richards slashed in the Ravenhill incident survived the attack.

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