AN AXEMAN and his accomplice who, with faces covered, had threatened a lone assistant during a robbery at a Londis store at Prestatyn have both been jailed.

Jordan Cretney, 27, from Rhyl, who’d bought the axe that day in November 2018, was jailed for six years and nine months. He today pleaded guilty to robbing £590 and having an axe in Ffordd Isa, Prestatyn.

Thomas Bell, 31, of Belmont Road North, Sheffield, but from Prestatyn, was jailed for five years and four months. He’d admitted the offences previously. Caernarfon crown court heard on Tuesday, February 11 that he wielded the axe and smashed it on the counter.

Prosecutor James Coutts said police recovered bin-bags, the axe and clothing in an alley. DNA and Cretney’s fingerprints were found.

Mr Coutts said CCTV recorded Cretney in the store 20 minutes before the raid. His seized mobile phone showed he had a drug debt.

It had been the shopworker’s second robbery and he never returned to his job. Mr Coutts said he had post-traumatic stress.

Both defendants had previous convictions for robbery.

Simon Killeen, for Cretney, said he had significant mental health issues.

Sarah Yates, defending Bell, said he had a relationship and full-time employment.

Judge Timothy Petts told the raiders it was “no doubt a horrifying experience” for the assistant. “You targeted a shop you thought was vulnerable,” the judge declared.