Teenager swapped shoes with brother after robbery

Frank Stanley, of Cleathill in Bedford, appeared at Mold Crown Court via video link on Monday for sentence.

The 18-year-old had previously admitted assisting an offender by impeding apprehension/prosecution.

In 2020 the Leader reported how Thomas Flynn, then aged 24 and of no fixed abode, was jailed for his part in a burglary in Llys y Groes, Wrexham in September that year.

Earlier this year John Price, then aged 22 and of no fixed abode, appeared for sentence alongside then 23-year-old Scott Powell, of Y Wern in Wrexham, and then 19-year-old Patrick Flynn, of Station Court in Gwersyllt - for their involvement in the incident.

Karl Scholz, prosecuting, told the court how the victim in the case, Mrs Barinderjit Dhaliwal, had been at home with her two-month-old baby when three people broke into her home.

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One of the men grabbed a necklace she was wearing, while another pulled a ring from her finger.

A third pointed a weapon at her.

She was told she and her child would be killed if she didn't tell them where to find more gold at the property.

Mr Scholz explained that after the burglary John Price, the half-brother of Frank Stanley, asked him to swap shoes with him, which he did.

He added: "There's no suggestion this defendant was part of the planning of this robbery, and no suggestion he played a part in it.

"His involvement seems to have been simply the request of his half brother to exchange footwear.

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"He (Price) was anxious because he was concerned he had - as proved to be the case - left footmarks which matched his shoes."

At the time of the burglary, Frank Stanley was 16-years-old and had no convictions. He hasn't offended since, the court heard.

Philip Tully, defending, said: "Not only is Mr Stanley's culpability restricted to switching trainers under the direction of his older brother, he had no knowledge whatsoever of the burglary or the offence his brother had been involved in."

Judge Niclas Parry told the defendant: "You simply did what your brother asked you to do, with no knowledge of what had gone on.

"With the passage of more than two years you've continued to keep out of trouble, so I am not going to punish you."

The Judge handed down a 12 month conditional discharge.

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