Rhys Thomas pleaded guilty to attempted robbery at Swansea Crown Court
A TEENAGER who had an air pistol pulled on him just yards from a supermarket has described how the weapon popped "like a party popper" when it was fired, a court has heard.
The 18-year-old was walking from the city centre Tesco branch towards the Quadrant bus station on the evening of September 26 when he heard his name being shouted out.
Ian Wright, prosecuting, said the victim turned around and saw someone he knew — fellow 18-year-old Rhys Phillip Thomas.
The court heard Thomas approached the victim and asked him to change a £20 — when he refused, Thomas told him: "I know you have got money in your pocket — hand it over or I will shoot you with a gas gun".
The barrister said Thomas then pulled an air pistol from his pocket and pointed it at his victim's ribs.
The victim managed to grab Thomas' wrist, and the two began "grappling" before the weapon was fired.
The court heard the victim described the sound of the pistol as "a pop like a party popper".
Thomas tried to reload the weapon, and the pair ended up struggling on the pavement before the defendant ran off.
The court heard Thomas hid the weapon in a doorway of a shop in the nearby St David's shopping centre before running into the centre of town where he was seen near the McDonald's restaurant in Castle Square taking his top off and putting it into a bag.
Thomas, of Mansel Street, Swansea, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and to possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or alarm when he appeared at court in custody.
Police recovered the gun the day after the incident, and it was later examined by a force ballistics expert who said it was a low-powered air weapon.
The court heard it was not known if the victim had been hit by a pellet from the pistol but he had suffered grazes to his ribs, back and arms which were typical of injuries caused by scuffling on the ground.
Robin Rouch, for Thomas, said his client had left home after the death of his mother and the "fracturing" of the relationship with his father, and had taken to spending most of his time on the streets in the city centre and consuming legal high drugs.
The barrister said Thomas was in the process of moving his possessions between addresses, and that was why he had the air pistol on him.
Judge Geraint Walters said it was becoming increasingly clear that there was link between taking legal highs and violent behaviour.
He described the attempted robbery as an "unpleasant and serious incident", and sentenced Thomas to three years in prison.
Sending him down, the judge told him: "Make yourself some promises about the life you want to lead on your release."
Read more at http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/air-pistol-popped-like-a-party-popper-during-swansea-robbery-attempt/story-30135721-detail/story.html#m0klCkEMY8I5RbvM.99
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