A man has been sentenced to three years in prison after committing two robberies at betting offices in the Neath Port Talbot area.
Lloyd Kieron Jones, aged 29, from Kenfig Hill, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after pleading guilty to the offences.
The first incident happened at the Coral betting office on Briton Ferry Road, Neath at about 7.50pm on Saturday 24th July. Jones entered the premises and made threats and demanded money from a 24 year female member of staff, he later fled the scene with a quantity of cash.
The second robbery occurred at 9.52am on Wednesday 4th August at the Ladbrokes betting office on Dalton Road, Port Talbot. The 27 year old female victim was opening the premises when she was attacked and physically restrained by Jones. She was dragged into the shop where she was forced to open the safe.
Detective Inspector Dave Hough of Neath Port Talbot CID said: “Robberies such as these are not everyday occurrences in Neath Port Talbot but when they do happen we will be committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice.
“A dedicated team of detectives worked hard to trace and arrest the person responsible for these crimes and I am pleased that it has reached a positive conclusion and sends out a message that serious acts of violence will not be tolerated in Neath Port Talbot.
“These were traumatic incidents for both the victims of these crimes who were confronted by this individual in their workplace.
“I would like to thank members of the community who took the time to contact police with information following our appeals in the local press.
“This proved invaluable to the investigation team who were able to identify a suspect and bring him to justice and prevent further robberies taking place which was likely in these circumstances.”
