Brutal robber gets 11 years (From Barry And District News)

Brutal robber gets 11 years

A ROBBER from Barry who threatened to gouge out one of the eyes of his disabled victim was sentenced to 11 years in prison at Cardiff Crown Court this week.

Dominic Farrugia, aged 29, of Dunlin Court, received the jail term after being convicted of robbery and intimidating a witness.

Farrugia was one of three defendants who received a total of 17 years in prison for the robbery and other related charges.

Sarah Lambird, aged 26, of York Place, was sentenced to four years in prison for stealing £20 from the same victim on a separate occasion and for witness intimidation.

Michael Whitby, aged 26, of College Place, received a two-year jail sentence for his part in intimidating the witness who was a neighbour of the 56-year-old.

Acting Detective Inspector Mark Bowen, of Barry CID, said: "The sentences given by the court reflect the severity of these crimes. These were particularly nasty crimes which involved more than three months of persecution of a vulnerable person."

The victim was described as an alcoholic who is disabled and finds walking difficult following an accident. He was assaulted in his own home by Farrugia.

Recorder Anthony Seys-Llewellyn QC told Farrugia that the robbery, which took place in November last year, had been "without excuse or provocation and on a vulnerable man, at home, unable to defend himself.

"It was accompanied by the threat that if he didn't let you have money you would gouge out his eye.

'Terrifying assault'

"You had a weapon and inflicted an injury to his face. I have no doubt he was terrified."

All three defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

However, they were found guilty by a jury following a trial that lasted a week.

The victim had been a disabled man who had difficulty walking following an accident he had suffered.

The court heard that a witness to the robbery had violence used against him by Lambird and Whitby.

The court also heard that Lambird's offending was for money to feed her drug habit and she and Whitby had suffered severe traumas in their lives.