Brothers who robbed post office with samurai sword jailed

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Brothers who robbed post office with samurai sword are jailed

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/south ... ticle.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

TWO brothers have been jailed for a £26,000 armed robbery in which a terrified Briton Ferry sub-postmaster was kicked in the face and threatened with a pistol and a samurai sword.

Ryad and Richard Morgan attacked victim Andrew Ball after he arrived to open up Briton Ferry Post Office on the morning of May 6.

They forced him to deactivate and unlock the safe after confronting him at a rear access door.

After being bound with tape, Mr Ball feared for his life when a pistol was pressed against the back of his neck.

He was then struck with the gun and suffered a serious nose injury when he was kicked in the face.

Ryad Morgan, aged 28, of Giant's Grave Road, Briton Ferry, and Richard Morgan , aged 25, of Villiers Street, Port Talbot, were sent down today when they appeared at Swansea Crown Court.

Sentencing, Mr Justice John Griffith Williams said: "This was a premeditated, highly organised robbery that was planned well in advance."

Ryad Morgan, who was found guilty by a jury last month, had previous convictions for actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm and perverting the course of justice, the court heard.

The 28-year-old was jailed indefinitely after the judge described him as dangerous and imposed a special sentence of imprisonment for public protection.

He will have to serve six years behind bars before becoming eligible to apply for release on licence and will only be released at that stage if the Parole Board is satisfied he is no longer a danger.

Richard Morgan was given a seven-year sentence and told he could expect to be released on licence after three-and-a-half.

The court was told he had previous convictions for offences involving vehicles but none for violence.

He admitted his guilt at an early stage after the stolen money was found at his home.

Prosecutor Christopher James told the court how the defendants – wearing boiler suits and balaclava masks - ambushed Mr Ball as he arrived for work at 8.35am.

Ryad Morgan had a samurai sword while his younger brother had a starting pistol.

Inside the post office Mr Ball was forced to the floor and his hands were bound with tape. Tape was also put over his eyes.

The robbers threatened to shoot him if he did not open the safe and he feared for his life when he heard the gun being cocked as it was pressed to his neck.

The brothers escaped with £26,400 after Mr Ball was kicked in the face by Ryad Morgan and struck over the head with the gun by Richard Morgan.

The terrified sub-postmaster suffered a broken nose and a split septum and was left needing corrective plastic surgery, said Mr James.

Ryad Morgan denied involvement when arrested, insisting he had not been his brother's accomplice in the robbery.

But Richard Morgan identified his older brother as the other robber.

After reading a victim-impact statement by Mr Ball, the judge said of the sub-postmaster: "There can be no doubt that his life has been completely changed by this extremely traumatic experience."

The judge said it was obvious that, during the planning of the robbery, one or both of the defendants must have watched Mr Ball arriving for work.

"I'm in no doubt that if Mr Ball had not told you how to get into that safe you would have used even more violence against him," he added.

Mr Ball was in the public gallery during yesterday's sentencing hearing but declined to comment as he left the court building.

[Post Off]

Why do people have to be so fugging violent. I mean, it's not as if they'll be met with a similar form of punishment when they are brought to justice. If you can call justice anything other than the removal of one's liberty?