Jail term cut after complaints of racism (From Western Telegraph)

Jail term cut after complaints of racism

A SERVING soldier, who attacked a man in the centre of Haverfordwest with a samurai sword and later staged an armed robbery, has been jailed for five years.

The sentence was 'dramatically' reduced from what it could have been after the judge accepted complaints of racism.

He said the racism shown in Haverfordwest, towards coloured soldiers based at Brawdy was 'unforgivable'.

Jay Scott, aged 19, admitted wounding Michael Williams, robbery, possessing a firearm and driving while disqualified.

Stephen Rees, prosecuting, told Swansea crown court how last September Scott and Sean Hall, both with the Royal Signals, went to Haverfordwest for a night out.

In a pub they clashed with local youths and the pair returned to Scott's car, retrieved the sword and an extendable baton and hid them up an alleyway.

A few hours later they came across the youths, including Michael Williams, again and agreed to fight down the alleyway where Williams took off his shirt.

Scott suddenly produced the samurai sword and slashed Williams across the chest. The cut was so deep his ribs were exposed.

Scott and Hall placed the weapons in the boot of a car driven by another soldier. But as he headed back to Brawdy he was stopped by police for drink driving and volunteered what was in the boot. After their arrest, Scott and Hall said they had been racially abused.

Mr Rees said that, knowing the character of the local youths involved, the prosecution accepted they had been taunted.

Captain Andrew Slack, second in command at Brawdy, told the court he was aware of racism towards black soldiers when they visited Haverfordwest.

Scott was granted bail and on January 2nd staged an armed robbery at Pelcomb service station. Wearing a balaclava and green camouflage paint, Scott crept across farmland to enter by a side door. Inside, Susan Pemberton was on duty alone.

Scott pulled out a gun - capable of firing pellets with lethal effect - and forced her to pull out the cash drawer and crouch behind the counter while he placed £1,030 into a bag. She later told police: "I asked him not to hurt me. I was on the verge of crying but I did not want to go to pieces. I thought he was going to shoot me."

Scott was arrested at Haverfordwest railway station by an armed response unit. He told officers he was heavily in debt.

Mr Rees said Miss Pemberton still suffered panic attacks and had difficulty in sleeping. Scott, described as a prime candidate for promotion before the offences, will now be dishonourably discharged. He was sentenced to four-and-a-half years for robbery and an extra six months for the wounding.

Hall, aged 20, admitted possessing an offensive weapon and was made the subject of a two-year community rehabilitation order.