Knifeman made a balaclava out of socks to rob store

A COCAINE addict made himself a balaclava and gloves from a pair of socks then took a kitchen knife and went to rob a convenience store.

James Powell pointed the blade at the assistant, who was on her own in the shop, and ordered her to empty all the cash from the till into a bag.

Tony Trigg, prosecuting, said the offending happened on February 13, adding: “The defendants had been smoking crack cocaine.”

The court heard Powell and his co-defendant Elliott Bodenham went to the Shell garage in Cwmbran at around 6am.

Powell got out and put £51 worth of petrol in the Ford Fiesta, then got back into the passenger seat and Bodenham, who was not insured, drove off without paying.

A few hours later, at around 1.15pm, Bodenham parked up outside Premier Stores in St John’s Crescent, Wainfelin, Torfaen.

Mr Trigg said Powell put on the balaclava and walked up to the counter with a “large kitchen knife” in his right hand raised towards the shop assistant.

The court heard he demanded cash and cigarettes, saying: “Just give me all the money out of the till and no-one gets hurt.”

Powell walked out with the cigarettes and £200.

Prosecutors said a passer-by saw what was going on and called the police. She was able to give officers part of the car’s number plate.

The court heard Bodenham’s mother took him to the police station in Cwmbran two days later and he handed himself in.

Powell handed himself in soon afterwards and made full admissions, accepting they had been smoking crack cocaine and drove off from the petrol station without paying for fuel.

He admitted cutting up a pair of socks before he left home to use as gloves and an improvised balaclava.

Powell admitted holding the knife towards the shop assistant to frighten her but stated he did not intend to injure her and was “very sorry”.

Powell told the police they drove off, discarding the knife and bag, then smoked the cigarettes and spent the £200 on more crack cocaine.

Prosecutors said Powell had 19 previous offences on his record, including kidnap, dangerous driving and drug offences.

Powell, 32, from Beech Close in Cwmbran, admitted robbery, carrying a knife and making off without payment in breach of a suspended sentence.

The court heard his father died recently, his mother is unwell and he has two young daughters.

Prosecutors said Bodenham had two previous offences on his record - assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

Bodenham, 24, from Cwm Farm Lane in Pontypool, admitted robbery, making off without payment, and driving without insurance.

His counsel Gareth Williams told the court Bodenham has a partner and a two-year-old son.

Powell was jailed for four years and four months.

Bodenham was jailed for four years and given eight penalty points on his driving licence.