Syringe robber has jail term cut

A syringe-wielding armed robber from Wolverhampton who was jailed for 12 years for a raid on a sub-post office has had his sentence reduced by Appeal Court judges.

Raphael Edwards was handed the sentence at Birmingham Crown Court in November 2007 after admitting his part in the raid in the Perry Beeches area of the city a year earlier. The 26-year-old, of Eastney Crescent, Pendeford, admitted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm and a blade. Yesterday his sentence was cut to 10 years.

The decision came at the Criminal Appeal Court by three top judges.

Mrs Justice Gloster, who heard the appeal with Lord Justice Thomas and Mr Justice Wilkie, said the lesser term was appropriate because no serious injury had been dealt out to the shop staff.

Edwards was one of two men who raided the sub-post office on November 9, 2006, carrying a syringe loaded with a red liquid.

The syringe was held at one staff member's neck as the men demanded cash. They escaped with around £300, but were arrested nearby within half an hour.

During the hearing Edwards' barrister, Nigel Stelling, argued that the sentencing judge had been wrong to assess the case as being at the most serious end of the offending scale.

Mrs Justice Gloster said: "In our judgment, there can be no doubt that this was a very nasty attack on a sub-post office. The threats of force were very serious and very unpleasant, involving, as they did, the threat of use of a gun and a syringe containing red liquid.

"The two women employees must have been very scared indeed. However, this was not a case where the victims were caused any serious physical injury by the use of significant force or the use of a weapon.

"Moreover, Edwards had not previously been convicted of any offence of violence."