This CCTV footage shows Kane Wannell, 19, burst into a post office shouting 'armed robbery'
A teenager dressed in a black suit and balaclava burst into a busy Post Office in Newport with a gun shouting “armed robbery”.
Cardiff Crown Court heard 19-year-old Kane Wannell was not immediately taken seriously when he tried to rob Bassaleg Post Office around 1pm on September 5.
Prosecutors said he held the weapon to the post master’s head and said: “It’s not a f***ing joke. Give me the f***ing money.”
Crown prosecutor Julian Greenwood described the shop on Caerphilly Road as a “major community facility” and said it was busy at the time of the incident.
The shop is run by Shaun Pritchard and his wife Julie, plus her daughter Claire McFadden.
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Dressed in a black suit and balaclava
Mr Greenwood played a CCTV clip that showed the defendant running into the shop dressed in a black suit and balaclava, with what appeared to be a gun in his hand.
He said: “The first reaction was that it was a joke. Initially there was laughter, until people realised the seriousness of the situation.”
The court heard Wannell pressed a BB gun into Mr Pritchard’s forehead, leaving a red mark.
Mr Pritchard went to punch the defendant – who had “second thoughts” – and chased him out of the premises.
The family called the police, who took the CCTV footage, in which the defendant could be seen outside before putting on his balaclava.
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He handed himself into police
Wannell handed himself in at Newport Police Station the next day and gave a prepared statement, telling officers: “Something happened in my head.”
He added: “I had the idea of robbing a Post Office and I just couldn’t stop myself once the idea was in my head.
“I’m sorry if I frightened anyone. It’s just not me and I still don’t know why I did it.”
He said he threw the BB gun and clothes into the river following the incident.
Wannell, from Tredegar Park View in Rogerstone, pleaded guilty on October 5 to attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm.
The court heard he had previous convictions for theft and assault and had failed to comply with a community order.
'Flashbacks, panic and anxiety'
Mr Pritchard made a victim impact statement about six weeks after the incident, stating: “There has been a dramatic impact on myself and my family.”
He said he was struggling to sleep and suffered from flashbacks, panic and anxiety.
The court heard the stress had aggravated existing health problems and he said his wife and step-daughter had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Mr Pritchard said he would no longer take breaks at work, as he did not want to leave his family alone in the shop.
He added: “I used to be a calm person, but I find myself on edge getting ready for work, because there’s always the thought it could happen again.”
The complainant described the incident as “life changing”.
'A sad background'
Gareth Williams, defending, said his client’s family were “at a loss” to explain why the offending had occurred.
He said: “It does seem this is a very strange, albeit very serious, and childish offence by a young person who clearly has maturity difficulties.”
Mr Williams said his client had a “sad background” and had missed school and suffered from mental health problems after his mother died.
He added: “He can be helpful, kind and there are those who trust him. Those who know him best do not understand how he got into this position.”
Judge David Wynn Morgan noted there were many elderly customers in the Post Office, who were “very frightened indeed”.
Wannell was sentenced to four years in custody, starting in a young offender institution and then prison.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/terrifying-moment-teenager-black-suit-12086761
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