A would-be robber brandished an imitation gun at jewellery shop staff — only to break down in tears and apologise before waiting for police to arrive. Gareth Heard, 44, tried to hold up the Gus Jones Jewellers shop in Ebbw Vale but "fell apart" when challenged by staff, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
Heard entered the business in Bethcar Street on May 8 with a gas-powered BB gun which Judge Shomon Khan described as a "realistic" imitation of a firearm. Heard demanded staff hand over cash but they refused, and he got the same answer when he asked for jewellery. He started crying and apologised to the staff. "One can't begin to understand how frightening it would have been for those in the shop who thought it a real gun," the judge told Heard.
"The staff managed the situation really well. They managed you and de-escalated what could have been an even more frightening incident. The fact they were extremely brave doesn't change how terrifying it would have been. I recognise that when you were challenged by staff you realised how foolish your actions were and you put the firearm down on the counter. When police arrived you cooperated fully."
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One of the employees in the shop at the time, Irona Morgan, said in a statement that was read in court: "This incident had a massive impact on me. I've been traumatised by it in every aspect of my life.
"I'm not normally a nervous person but now if I see someone for the first time I feel nervous because I don't know what they're going to say or do. I'm anxious all the time and my confidence has really been knocked. I've been sleeping a lot less and struggling to eat because I have a sick feeling in my stomach." The court also heard she had needed time off work and was waiting for counselling.
Heard, from Blackwood and of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. He had 79 previous offences on his record — mostly thefts but also crimes involving knife possession and drugs.
His barrister Ieuan Bennett acknowledged the "poor" record but added: "Apart from failing to attend drug testing, his last offence was as far back as 2015. He had a drug problem and sorted himself out. In recent times he began a relationship and sadly the lady involved was a Class A drug abuser and those drugs were in the house where they lived.
"With some degree of encouragement from her, he began taking Class A drugs again. The couple soon ran up a debt which they couldn't repay and threats of violence began to be issued against them. This defendant was stabbed by the people to whom he owed money.
"He decided to obtain an imitation firearm, foolishly, in case another attack happened. Then, in a state of despair one day, he went into Ebbw Vale and attempted to take money or goods he could sell. I appreciate it is an attempted robbery but it was all over fairly quickly.
"It was probably a few seconds before he realised the whole thing was not going to work out. He desisted with the attempted robbery and, very unusually, put the gun down on the counter and stood well back from it and began to apologise. It is fairly clear he fell apart in a short space of time and waited quietly in the shop for police to turn up. He wishes to pass on his apologies through me to the people in the shop. He recognises they were simply local people doing their jobs. He was simply not thinking correctly at the time. He is determined to get his life back on track again."
Judge Khan took into account the "severe impact" of the incident on Ms Morgan. He also noted the lengthy gap since Heard's previous offending and that the defendant had "clearly worked hard" to get clean from drugs in around 2015. The judge imposed a jail term of four years and eight months as well as a £228 victim services surcharge. For the latest court reports, sign up to our crime newsletter here
