Online debt led to shop robbery

Bourne was being 'chased' for £5,000 gambling debts

A man with an internet gambling addiction robbed a jewellers in Powys of trays of diamond rings to pay off a £5,000 debt, a court heard.

Richard Bourne, 23, was jailed for three-and-a-half years at Mold Crown Court after admitting robbery.

A 20-year-old worker suffered cuts and bruises after she struggled with him at the shop in Newtown.

Bourne, who had been living rough, had been on a "downward spiral" and was being chased for money the court heard.

He vaulted the counter at the family-owned Woodroffe Jewellers at closing time just before Christmas as staff were putting away trays of rings from displays into the safe.

Bourne grabbed at three trays and kicked out at the assistant, who struggled with him.

He fled with diamond rings valued at £10,000, but only one ring valued at £395 has been recovered.

Bourne was caught after leaving his fingerprints on the counter.

'Difficult time'

A 17-year-old accomplice had earlier checked on the premises. He also admitted robbery and sentence was adjourned for psychiatric assessment. The judge Mr Justice Gray, said that the effect of the robbery upon the two people working in the shop had been considerable.

Defending barrister John Hedgecoe said that the offence occurred at a time when Bourne had started gambling and he had started to do it on the internet using credit cards.

"He had debts of around £5,000 that he was being chased for."

Sentencing the former factory worker, Mr Justice Gray said he also appreciated before the robbery Bourne had a "difficult time".

In a three month period, he had lost his father, his relationship with his partner ended and he was sleeping rough after falling out with his mother.

"I am told that this was not intended to be a robbery. That may be so, but it turned into a robbery," he told the court.

The judge said it was a "serious offence" which required a jail sentence.