PRISON FOR SHOP RAIDERS
Court told how elderly couple threw bottles at crowbar-waving robbers:
POST Office raiders brandishing a crowbar were foiled when an elderly couple threw bottles of pop at them and a man in his 60s floored one with a lottery advertising board.
Thomas Haywood and Zak Corbett were wearing masks as they held up the village store, terrifying owners Steve and Anwen Pye.
Prosecutor Jo Maxwell told Caernarfon Crown Court how Mrs Pye had been alone in the shop at 5.15pm. “Corbett came behind the counter and pushed past her to the till while Haywood made towards the post office area,” she said.
Hearing her shouts for help, Mr Pye entered the shop in Rhosybol, Anglesey, and restrained Haywood, who struck him in the face and hurt his hand.
“His injuries were a cut lip and bloodied nose, displaced teeth and ongoing difficulties with dexterity in his hand,” added Miss Maxwell.
“Mrs Pye was yelling at them to get out and Corbett was yelling back at her to open the till.”
Mrs Pye ran to her neighbour, Lionel Joynson, 78, and told him to dial 999, before running back to the shop, shouting that the police were on their way.
Mr Joynson and his 77-year-old wife Gloria went to the shop with friend, Brian Roberts.
Corbett became “frantic” and the Joynsons threw bottles at him.
“Mr Joynson reached across the counter towards Corbett, who swung the crowbar towards him, narrowly missing his head,” said Miss Maxwell. “Mr Roberts also tried to intervene and Corbett swung the crowbar towards him.”
As the robbers tried to get away Mr Roberts swung the metal lottery sign at Haywood, who fell after being hit in the stomach.
Mr Joynson and Mr Roberts then “detained him” until police arrived, and Corbett fled.
Simon Mintz, representing Haywood, who also admitted having cannabis, said the crowbar had not been used during the struggle in November last year but had been taken to threaten and open the till.
Jonathan Austin, for Corbett, said the offence was drug-related. “He was in desperate straits to pay back his debts,” he said.
Mrs Pye, 60, described Corbett as “manic” and the couple feared retribution. They gave up running the shop after 14 years.
Corbett, 43, of no fixed address, who had been jailed for previous robberies, was sent to prison for 12 years. Haywood, 36, of Tynygongl, Anglesey, got eight years and four months. Both men pleaded guilty to robbery and theft of £150.
A restraining order was imposed banning the pair from making any contact with Mr and Mrs Pye.
Speaking after the case Det Insp Gerwyn Thomas described the attack as “an appalling act of violence which left the victims and close knit community understandably traumatised”.
He added: “I’d publicly like to acknowledge their bravery and the assistance we had from the local community.
“Corbett fled the scene and area but thanks to an alert PCSO in Sheffield he was eventually arrested.”