Life for gunman who terrorised family

The court heard how Usher 'terrorised' the Tsang family

A gunman has been given three life sentences for a robbery in which he handcuffed a family of four and held a gun to the father's head.

Thomas Usher and an unknown accomplice robbed supermarket owner Hin Kwin Tsang in Cardiff, in December 2003.

The pair escaped with £5,000 in cash and jewellery, leaving the Tsang family "terrified and traumatised".

Usher admitted robbery, possessing an imitation firearm and possessing an imitation firearm at the time of an offence at Cardiff Crown Court.

The court was told it was likely that the robbers had carried out surveillance on the family in a "well-planned" and "professional" robbery.

A gun was put to the father's temple and the gunmen asked 'Where's the safe?' Prosecutor Michael Mather-Lees

The robbers had covered the faces of Mr Tsang and his wife, Wun, and told the couple's daughters, Michelle and Lisa not to look at them throughout the attack.

But Usher, 47, of July Road, Liverpool, was caught after "diligent" police work trapped him when his DNA was found on the handcuffs used in the attack.

Prosecutor Michael Mather-Lees said Usher and his accomplice struck as Mr Tsang was counting the day's takings from his supermarket at his home in the Rumney area of Cardiff.

He added: "The doorbell rang and Lisa Tsang, one of the daughters, answered.

Michelle Tsang said the family had feared for their lives

"She was confronted by two men holding what appeared to be handguns which were highly convincing.

"Mr Tsang was in the dining room with the day's takings on the table.

"Four pairs of handcuffs were produced and the family were told to get down on the floor and not to look at their assailants.

"Mr Tsang and his wife, Wun, had their heads covered. A gun was put to the father's temple and the gunmen asked 'Where's the safe?' and 'Where's the money?'"

Mr Mather-Lees said the two men, who had travelled from Liverpool to commit the robbery, became agitated until they were told Mrs Tsang also had some savings in the house

Usher and his unknown accomplice also struck Mrs Tsang and her daughter, Michelle, 22, during the robbery.

Mr Mather-Lees said: "This was a plainly well-planned and there must have been surveillance of the family.

"The raiders arrived very shortly after they got home and also had four pairs of handcuffs. It was a professional robbery."

'A nightmare'

Speaking shortly after the robbery, Michelle Tsang had relived the attack in an effort to help detectives jog the memory of the public.

Ms Tsang said the family had feared for their lives.

She added: "I was shocked to see these two men in our house - I knew something was wrong.

"We were fearing for our lives. We were really scared but were trying to co-operate with them. We were petrified. It was a nightmare.

"I was in shock, Mum and Dad were deeply traumatised by it."

The court was told on Tuesday that Usher had 39 previous convictions and had been jailed for six years for an earlier armed robbery.

He was arrested at his home in Liverpool after a dawn raid by police.

'Left distressed'

At his property, police found a realistic-looking ball-bearing gun that fired plastic pellets.

Usher admitted charges of robbery, possessing an imitation firearm and possessing an imitation firearm at the time of committing an offence.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC sentenced him to life on all three charges.

He told Usher: "They are a highly-respectable and hard working family.

"They were left distressed, terrified and traumatised.

"I have no hesitation in imposing a life sentence for each offence."