‘Feral’ trio set traps for takeaway delivery drivers
THREE out-of-control “feral” youngsters set a robbery trap for takeaway delivery drivers, a court has heard.
Two of them then went on to attack a taxi driver, while the third armed herself with a knife and pair of scissors and chased and made threats to kill a neighbour.
A judge told the trio – aged just 18, 19, and 20 – they had no respect for anything or anybody, and sent them all into custody.
Swansea Crown Court heard that late on the afternoon of May 14 this year a female calling herself Jade rang a branch of Dominos and ordered food to be delivered to flats in Jeffrey’s Court in the Penlan area of the city.
Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said the trio – Tamika Rosser, Jack Delaney and Adrian O’Neil, who is also known as Adrian Welch and Adrian Walsh – vcame down from Delaney’s flat and met the driver in the foyer of the block.
The group tried to snatch the bag of food from the delivery man, but after a brief “tug of war” he retreated back to his car, still holding the pizzas.
The court heard the trio followed their victim to the vehicle and hit him on the knee with a metal bar before grabbing the food and going back into the flats via a fire exit they had previously jammed open.
That evening the defendants set another trap, calling a second local pizza delivery firm and ordering more food.
Mr Jones said when the driver arrived in Jeffrey’s Court Delaney and O’Neil again met their victim in the foyer – this time armed with knives.
A scuffle ensued, with the the defendants brandishing the weapons and demanding money.
The driver managed to knock one of the men down before going back to his car and telephoning friends for help.
The driver then armed himself with a wheelbrace and charged Delaney and O’Neil in entrance to the flats, striking O’Neil several times.
Delaney made off but was caught and brought back to the flats.
Mr Jones said O’Neil managed to flee back to the flat where he armed himself with a kettle of water and returned to the foyer – another scuffle with the driver then followed.
Eventually, the delivery driver and his friends left the scene.
The court heard that in the early hours of the following morning the trio ordered a taxi, and they made the journey to Geiriol Road in Townhill.
Rosser got out of the front passenger seat of the vehicle leaving the two men in the back – O’Neil then grabbed the cabbie around the throat from behind, and “squeezed tightly”.
The men began shouting at the cabbie, told him they had knives, and said they would “cut” him.
The prosecutor said the cabbie drove off in a panic and managed to stop an oncoming car on Gwynedd Avenue, at which which point Delaney and O’Neil ran off.
Police were alerted to the spree of offending and, realising they were in trouble, Rosser and Delaney tried to smash CCTV cameras at the block of flats in Penlan in an attempt to destroy evidence.
The court heard that after being arrested Rosser was released on court bail to a specialist residential unit in Abertillery – a week later she drank and bottle of vodka, grabbed a kitchen knife and a pair of scissors, and chased a neighbour down the street and threatened to kill him before she damaged his house and car.
Tamika Rosser, 18, of Mansel Street, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to robbery and criminal damage for the Penlan matters, and to affray, two counts of possessing a bladed article, making threats to kill, and criminal damage – the Abertillery matters – when she appeared via videolink from prison for sentencing.
Delaney, 19, of Jeffrey’s Court, Penlan, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to robbery, two counts of attempted robbery, and one count of criminal damage, while 20-year-old O’Neil, of Oystermouth Road, had previously pleaded guilty to robbery and two counts of attempted robbery.
The court heard all three had many previous convictions.
Barrister Nicola Powell, for Rosser, said her client had been under the influence of a “concoction” of substances on the day in question. She said Swansea Council social services regarded her as a “significantly vulnerable person”.
David Singh, for Delaney, said the defendant had a “limited recollection of what happened” on the night in question, and was remorseful.
Huw Davies for O’Neil – who refused to leave his cell for the sentencing hearing – asked the judge to bare in mind the defendant’s young age.
Judge Geraint Walters said the three defendants could perhaps best be described as “feral” youngsters.
He told them: “The three of you have no respect for anything or anybody – not even yourselves.
“Each of you had troubled upbringings but that cannot continue to be used as an excuse for serious antisocial behaviour.”
Rosser was sentenced to a total of two years and eight months – she will serve the sentence in Eastwood Park prison where her mother is currently a serving prisoner.
Delaney was sentenced to a total of two years and eight months.
O’Neil was sentenced to four years.