KNIFE SHOCK AT THE SPAR
MASKED 20-YEAR-OLD’S ATTEMPTED KNIFEPOINT ROBBERY AT LOCAL STORE LEFT TERRIFIED SHOPWORKER ‘NUMB WITH FEAR’
ARMED police were called to a shop in Cardiff after a man brandished a large kitchen knife and ordered the manager to empty the till.
Firearms officers were dispatched to Spar in Rumney following reports of a knifepoint attempted robbery which left the owner and shop assistant scared and shaken.
The incident happened at the convenience store on Cae Glas Road in Rumney around 9.30pm on January 28. Cardiff Crown Court heard Rhys Saville repeatedly ordered the manager to open the till.
Jason Howells, prosecuting, said owner and manager Raed Mohamed was starting to close the shop when he noticed the defendant come in.
The court heard Saville, who had his hood up and the bottom half of his face covered, looked around and then left. A few moments later, he came back in, walked up to the till and pulled out a knife.
He pointed it towards Mr Mohamed and demanded he open the till.
Prosecutors said the manager told him to get out, or he would call the police, but Saville waved the knife around, saying: “No, I need the money. Open the till.”
The shop assistant described a large kitchen knife with a blade between 15cm and 20cm long. He said he was “numb with fear”.
He called police and firearms authority was given because it was an armed incident. Firearms officers arrived, but did not find the defendant. Another officer saw a man, who matched his description, on Greenway Road just before midnight. He stopped him and “red dotted” him with a Taser.
Saville was told to get on the floor and take his bag off his shoulder. He cooperated with the police, who found the knife in his bag.
Prosecutors said the defendant was “emotional” throughout his police interview, crying, with his head on the desk. He said he did not want to watch the CCTV footage of the incident.
He stated he was living with his father and grandmother, but did not get on with his grandmother and they had an argument. He accepted he did use cannabis, but had not had any that day.
The defendant said he was being “kicked out” and had not eaten for two or three days. He had been thinking for a few days about robbing the shop and took the knife from his grandmother’s drawer.
He said he left her home at 9.20pm and went to Spar, but “could not go through with it”. He said he was thinking: “Is it worth it? Shall I do it?” Then he went back and carried out the attempted robbery.
Judge Jeremy Jenkins said in terms of attempted robberies: “I have seen more determined efforts.”
Mr Howells said he would not make an application for the knife to be destroyed, because it belonged to the defendant’s grandmother.
Saville, 20, from Goodwick Road in Rumney, admitted attempted robbery and carrying a knife in a public place.
He appeared via video link from HM Cardiff Prison and said at the start of the hearing: “I just want the sentence.”
The defendant interrupted the prosecution facts and the judge said: “Will you be quiet please? If you have anything to say, you can say it to your counsel at the appropriate stage.”
Harry Baker, defending, said his client – who sat with his head bowed throughout the hearing – had no previous convictions or cautions.
He pointed out Saville showed the knife, but did not use it, describing his offending as “a fairly lowlevel attempt”.
Mr Baker said the defendant had been working, but lost his job, which caused him to lose his confidence and self-respect.
He said he had a “troubled background” and showed a lack of maturity.
Judge Jenkins said it was “a most serious offence”, adding: “Quite what was going through your mind is a mystery. What you did was reprehensible.”
Saville was sent to a young offender institution for 28 months and must serve half of that in custody before he can be released on licence.