Two men have been handed substantial jail sentences for their part in a masked robbery at a flat in Aberdare. Cardiff Crown Court heard how, on the evening of Wednesday, January 28, just after 8pm, Adam Jones and Rhys Jones, together with a third man, carried out the robbery in what was described as a “targeted set of offences”.
Targeted Attack Over Drugs Debt
Their primary target was one of the victims, Joshua Baker, who the court heard owed money for drugs. The three men travelled to the flat in a car, each armed with a knife and wearing face coverings. They entered the flat, brandishing the knives, and ordered four people inside, including Mr Baker, to get on the floor, empty their pockets, and hand over their belongings, which included cash, jewellery, and mobile phones.
The third man held his blade to Mr Baker’s throat, the court heard, and later stabbed him in the leg, causing a deep wound which measured 8cm long and 5cm deep, requiring 21 sutures in hospital. During the incident, Adam Jones, described as “the leader of the group”, told Mr Baker he was “the one he had been looking for”, which the court heard referred to a drugs debt, before punching him twice in the face.
Impact on Victims
Mr Baker was left “bleeding heavily” as a result of his wound as the men left the flat. The court heard he “thought he was going to die” and was left with physical and psychological damage, along with scarring and the need for physiotherapy. Victim personal statements from others involved heard they had been left “on edge” and fearful of an incident like that happening again, and also experiencing flashbacks.
Appearing at Cardiff Crown Court to be sentenced for robbery, Rhys Jones, 22, of Glen View, Ystrad Mynach, had previously pleaded guilty to the charge, while Adam Jones, 37, of Maesgwyn, Cwmdare, Aberdare, was convicted by a jury following trial. The court heard how Adam Jones was under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident, while Rhys Jones was under the influence of alcohol.
Sentences Handed Down
Hannah Head, barrister for Adam Jones, said: “He is ashamed at his readmittance into custody. He is an individual who is 37 years of age but significantly more mature than he once was.” Solomon Hartley, for Rhys Jones, said: “He feels an enormous amount of regret for the exceptionally poor decisions he made on that day which led to the offending. He was shocked at what transpired in that room. It was a level of violence he was not familiar with and is genuinely sorry for the harm caused.”
Judge Paul Hobson said the motivation behind the robbery was to “terrorise” Mr Baker. He said although it was not them, but the third man, who had inflicted the wound on Mr Baker, it offered “very limited mitigation” when they went as a group. He said: “The three of you plainly knew what was going to happen and had prepared accordingly.” Adam Jones was sentenced to 16 years in prison with five years on extended licence. Rhys Jones was jailed for nine years.
