‘Why are you doing this, Luke?’ Moment barmaid recognised masked robber as a club regular by his VOICE before he apologised for sticking gun in her face and hugged her – as he’s jailed for eight years
- Masked robber is recognised by barmaid he made ‘uncomfortable’
- Luke Jones, 29, hid in his father’s attic after botching south Wales robbery
- Jones was jailed for eight years after admitting attempted robbery
The incredible moment a masked gunman called off his robbery and hugged his would-be victim has been caught on camera.
Bungling thief Luke Jones pointed a handgun at Bargoed Snooker Club barmaid Yvette Smith while she cashed up in December.
The barmaid felt she was ‘going to die’ when Jones, 29, entered the south Wales club, even though she recognised his voice.
Bargoed Snooker Club barmaid Yvette Smith said she was ‘petrified’ after Luke Jones stormed into her club wielding what she thought was a real gun in December last year
When she called Jones by his name he took off his balaclava and told her he was only joking. Jones then showed her the weapon was in fact a BB gun
The bungling burgler hugged his victim seconds after he had a gun in her face. Edward Mitchard, defending, said Jones even offered to buy the south Wales barmaid a drink
After botching his robbery Jones fled to his nearby father’s house and hid in the attic. Police officers found him and after initially refusing, he came down 15 minutes later
On Tuesday, Cardiff Crown Court heard Jones was a customer at the club, and had got to know Ms Smith, even offering to help out and would sometimes help out.
But Ms Smith grew suspicious when Jones started asking her about the cashing up procedure, which made her feel ‘uncomfortable’ according to prosecutor Heath Edwards.
At around 11.15pm on December 27, Ms Smith was closing the club when Jones burst through the door.
Mr Edwards said: ‘The defendant waved the gun in her face. She thought it was a real gun she was being confronted with. They only stood feet apart.
‘She recognised him and said ‘why are you doing this Luke?’. When she called him by the name he took off his balaclava.’
The court heard Jones told her it wasn’t a real gun and that he was only ‘joking’.
Once he had removed his mask and gloves, Jones then began to console and hug Ms Smith.
He also took apart the weapon to show her it was a BB gun.
Jones fled the club and hid in the attic of his father’s home only a few hundreds yards away from the club. Police officers found him and after initially refusing he came down 15 minutes later.
Luke Jones was jailed for eight years after admitting to the attempted robbery along with previous offences
Mr Edwards said: ‘[Jones] said he was trying to play a joke, but did not realise the affect his actions would have on her.’
A statement given to police by Ms Smith said she was left ‘petrified’ by the incident and has been prescribed medication to help her sleep.
Ms Smith said: ‘I’m absolutely petrified following this incident. I’m distraught. I do not know if I can work in the bar again.
‘I honestly thought it was a real gun and I was going to be killed. Even talking about it to the police is upsetting to me. I could not sleep last night as every time I closed my eyes I could see a gun in my face.’
Edward Mitchard, defending, told the court Jones carried out the ‘impulsive’ attempted robbery to try and fund his drug habit.
Describing the attempt as ‘farcical’, Mr Mitchard said Jones offered Ms Smith a drink after revealing himself.
Emporium Snooker Club, also known as Bargoed Snooker Club, was the scene of a bizarre, botched attempted robbery in December 2019
He added that from entering the club to removing his balaclava lasted around ’12 seconds’.
At the time of the attempted robbery, Jones was on bail after being stopped by police who found heroin and a knuckle duster on his possession five months earlier.
Jones, of Morrison Street, Blackwood, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and the previous offences.
Judge Michael Fitton QC jailed Jones for a total of eight years for both sets of offences and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge. Jones will serve half his sentence before being released on licence.
Judge Fitton said: ‘You were out to get money for drugs. You clearly terrified her [Ms Smith] and she still suffers trauma from the impact of the event.’
Jones was also made the subject of a 15-year restraining order not to contact Ms Smith.