A TEENAGER from Rhyl is to serve a sentence in a young offenders’ institution (YOI) after he threatened a man with a kitchen knife in an attempted robbery.
Jamie Jones, 19, of Kings Avenue, was ordered to spend two years in a YOI at Mold Crown Court yesterday (April 24).
This followed him admitting both attempted robbery and possession of a bladed article.
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Prosecuting, Max Saffman told the court that, on March 27, Marcus Spragg placed a TAG Heuer watch up for sale on Facebook’s online marketplace, setting an asking price of £7,000.
Later that day, Mr Spragg received a Facebook message from a male he did not know, whose profile bore the name “Ben Williams”, enquiring about the watch.
The two parties negotiated a price of £6,700, which was agreed to be paid to Mr Spragg via bank transfer.
They agreed to meet at a property on Parc Esmor, Rhyl later that day.
At about 7.30pm, Jones was stood outside the address in question, which appeared to be vacant, and encouraged Mr Spragg to walk into the adjacent car park.
Jones then brandished a kitchen knife, roughly six inches in length, and demanded that Mr Spragg hand him the watch.
He shouted: “Give me the…”, but before he could finish, Mr Spragg and his stepfather accompanying him realised what was happening, and ran away.
They were pursued by Jones, but after a wheelie bin was pushed in his direction down an alleyway, the chase ended.
The matter was reported to police that evening, and after tracing the mobile number that Jones had initially provided to Mr Spragg, he was arrested at his home on March 30.
Jones, who had seven previous convictions for 24 offences, told police that he was a “heavy ketamine user” and owed his dealer £3,000.
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Defending, John Wyn Williams conceded that “custody is the inevitable consequence” of Jones’ actions, but added that he at least “had the good sense to plead guilty at the very first opportunity”.
Being remanded in custody has proved a “wake-up call” for Jones, Mr Williams said, adding that his offending is doubtless due to his ketamine addiction.
Prior to this incident, he was said to have been in a stable environment with his girlfriend.
“At the tender age of 19, he has amassed an unfortunate, long list of previous convictions,” Mr Williams said.
Sentencing, Judge Niclas Parry deemed Jones’ offences “too serious” to consider suspending his custodial sentence.
Judge Parry also felt Jones had “no prospect of rehabilitation” at this stage.
He told Jones: “Make sure you comply with the supervision, otherwise you might be back.
“Don’t reoffend when you’re out.”
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