KNIFEMAN’S CRIME SPREE
A MAN held up a convenience store with a kitchen knife as the final act in a crime “spree” which saw him burgling shops, a doctor’s surgery, and a dental practice all in a matter of weeks, a court has heard.
Aaron Dale Evans known as Dale - fashioned a makeshift balaclava from a beanie hat with eye holes cut out, and armed himself a large knife to target a shop not far from where he lived.
He was on licence from prison at the time, having been released from a sentence following a similar raid on a sandwich shop in which he’d threatened staff, and told them: “It’s not worth your life.”
Imposing an extended sentence on the 34-yearold at Swansea Crown Court, the judge said it was clear he posed a risk to the public.
Dean Pulling, prosecuting, said the robbery was the culmination of a “spree” of offending committed by Evans at commercial premises in Swansea in late 2019.
Over two months, Evans burgled the Ravenhill Dental Surgery in Ravenhill, Baptt shopfitters on Swansea West Business Park, Greenhill Medical Centre near Dyfatty junction, and the Ck/budgen’s shop in Cockett, the last shop being broken into twice in a matter of weeks. He also smashed the cash machine at the Chocolate Box shop on Caereithin Cross.
The court heard the burglaries followed a similar pattern, with Evans riding to his targets by bicycle, smashing or forcing security shutters to get access to windows or doors, then ransacking offices looking for things to steal before making off on two wheels.
Mr Pulling said Evans caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to the businesses he targeted, as well as taking items such as laptop computers and mobile phones. The two raids on the CK shop on Cockett Road saw the defendant stealing large quantities of cigarettes and tobacco on both occasions.
Then, shortly before 9pm on February 2 this year, Evans donned a homemade balaclava and armed himself with a large kitchen knife, and walked into the Nisa store on Caereithin Cross minutes before closing time.
The court heard the defendant began “waving the knife around” and shouting “give me your money”, forcing the sole member of staff on duty to seek safety in a rear room. Evans then forced the till open with a screwdriver, grabbed £325 in notes from within, and fled.
Mr Pulling said police inquiries led them to Evans’s address in Ravenhill - he was not at home but officers recovered a beanie hat with cut-out eye holes, a knife, and items of clothing which matched those seen in CCTV footage from a number of the burglaries.
The following day, police tracked the defendant down to a house on neighbouring Heol Awstin - when arrested and cautioned he replied: “I’ll speak to my solicitor to sort this.”
Evans, of Rhodfa’r Brain, Ravenhill, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty to robbery, possession of a bladed article, four counts of burglary, one of burglary with intent to steal, and criminal damage when he appeared in the dock via videolink for sentencing.
The court heard he has 24 previous convictions for 113 offences, including two dozen commercial and non-dwelling burglaries - the break-ins beginning when he was aged 14 - as well as arson, drugs matters, and escaping lawful custody.
At the time of the crime spree, Evans was out of prison on licence having been released from a sentence for a previous robbery - in December 2015 a balaclava-wearing Evans held-up the Subway sandwich shop on Fforestfach Cross, threatening staff with a screwdriver and telling them: “It’s not worth your life.”
He was caught and jailed the following month, and was released on licence from that sentence in October 2017.
Stuart John, for Evans, said his client’s best mitigation was his guilty pleas.
He said the defendant’s misuse of drugs lay at the root of his offending, a situation “not assisted” by the mental health problems he had experienced for much of his adult life.
Judge Huw Rees told Evans he had a “lengthy and consistent” record of offending which displayed a “clear pattern of aggression and violence”.
He said the late-night raid on the Nisa shop must have been a terrifying experience for the shop worker.
The judge said it was plain from everything he had read in reports about the defendant that he posed a significant risk to members of the public, and an extended sentence was necessary.
Giving the defendant credit for his guilty pleas he imposed a total extended sentence of nine years, comprising six years custody, and three years on licence.
Evans can apply for release after he has served two-thirds of the custodial element of the sentence, but will only be let out at that point if the Parole Board is satisfied he no longer poses a risk.