TWO Powys men with “appalling” criminal records have received lengthy prison terms after a hammer attack during a robbery at a Newtown service station.

Gary Alan Davies and William Gareth Thomas brandished weapons – including a knife and hammer – as they locked an employee in a room at the Snax 24 garage on Pool Road in the early hours of June 14, 2018. The victim was hit twice with the hammer by 47-year-old Thomas, described as the “ringleader”, when he was unable to give Thomas the keys to open a cash machine.

The victim was locked in a back office as both defendants stole items from the shop but he managed to escape, before returning to the store as he attempted to contact police. He was chased by Davies but both defendants fled when the employee managed to flag down a passing lorry driver.

Around 24 hours earlier, the pair had attempted to burgle the Garthowen Stores shop in Newtown but had left empty handed after being disturbed and challenged by the occupant of the upstairs flat.

The duo were eventually caught after being arrested in connection with another aggravated burglary at a rural post office a month after these two attacks.

Thomas, of Lon Gwern, Vaynor, Newtown, who was 44 at the time of the incidents, entered guilty pleas to charges of robbery, attempted burglary, and two counts of possession of an offensive weapon last October. Davies, of Oldford Rise, who is now 46 and was 43 at the time, was convicted of the same offences last month following a trial.

Appearing for sentence at Mold on Friday, April 9, prosecutor Myles Wilson said the defendants, and a third unidentified man, tried to break into the Garthowen convenience store around 5am on June 14, 2018.

“The witness spoke to the defendants, who tried to hide their faces,” said Mr Wilson.

“Gary Davies was wearing a onesie and told the witness they were trying to help the shopkeeper who was locked out and then told him to mind his own businesses.”

A little under 24 hours later, at around 2am on June 15, Mr Wilson said the men hit the Snax garage.

“The victim had been working alone and was mopping the floor when the defendants burst in, with their faces covered,” said Mr Wilson.

“Gary Davies was wearing overalls and carrying a knife. William Thomas had a hammer and both men were brandishing their weapons.

“William Thomas manhandled the victim, pulled him into the store office and told him to open the cash machine. When he explained he didn’t have the key to open it, William Thomas hit him with the hammer in the shoulder, demanded he open the machine again, then hit him on the hand.

“He was then brought back into the counter area on his knees and stamped on twice by William Thomas, made to open the till and Gary Davies stole £257.05 cash, while William Thomas stole packets of cigarettes and bottles of alcohol, the alcohol was worth £536.28, the cigarettes £47.84.”

The pair were disturbed by a customer entering the store but while Thomas gagged the employee Davies told the customer the garage was closed and they left.

After escaping via Thomas’ car which was parked nearby it was nearly a month later when the defendants were arrested following another burglary at a rural post office – CCTV and clothing linked both to the Newtown attacks, while Davies was identified via video parade by the witness in the Garthowen burglary. Thomas’ red Ford Fiesta was used in both offences.

Both admitted their parts in the post office burglary, with Mr Wilson saying: “Two elderly occupants were disturbed in their bed and threatened with a pair of scissors. They had jewellery and a purse stolen.”

Davies, who pleaded guilty on the basis he’d not entered the post office, received a three-year jail term for that offence in March 2019, for which he is currently on licence. Thomas received a seven-year sentence, which he is still serving at Wrexham’s HMP Berwyn.

Jonathan Austin, acting for Davies, said his client had expressed considerable remorse.

“He has already served a sentence for the later burglary,” Mr Austin said of Davies, a father of nine who had been living in a tent in early 2020.

“It formed part of a pattern, during which he was heavily under the influence of Class A drugs and he has very little recollection of the offences.

“Despite his past offences he has truly shown an ability to behave responsibly. He is going in the right direction and there is some hope there.”

Michael Scholes, defending Thomas, described his client as someone who had become “completely overwhelmed by his addiction” to drugs.

“The offending spree occurred due to his addiction to crack cocaine in particular, he would do anything to fuel this addiction,” said Mr Scholes.

“He has not sought to take chances with a jury or put the complainant through the agony of having to recall events of that evening.

“He has lived a wasted life, but he does want to try and make amends.”

Recorder Judge Richard Booth told Davies the jury at his trial “saw through your lies in light of overwhelming evidence against you”. He told Thomas he was the “ringleader” and that the robbery was “very poorly planned”, adding his actions were “violent and cowardly”.

Thomas will serve an extended eight-year term, including six years in custody and two on licence. He was given a further 39 months for the other three offences, to run concurrently.

For the robbery, Davies will serve nine years, including seven inside and two on licence. He was given an additional 52 months for the other three incidents, also to run concurrent.