A 'handgun-wielding' robber who took cash and cigarettes from a Wrexham garage was identified by police because of his eyebrows, a court heard.

Corey Li, of Tudor Avenue in Rhostyllen, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentence on Thursday.

The 23-year-old had previously admitted one offence of robbery.

Oliver King, prosecuting, told the court that at 10pm on June 8 this year, Richard Wright began his night shift at the Esso Garage in Rhostyllen.

He was in the back room when, just after midnight, two men - one of whom was Li - entered the shop.

As he came through to serve them, he saw both had gone behind the counter, and Li was carrying what appeared to be a handgun.

The defendant pointed the gun at the victim and demanded money.

Mr Wright was understandably shocked and scared, but complied and opened the till.

Li pointed the gun towards the back of the shop and discharged it - the sound revealing it was in fact an air gun.

He took notes from the cash drawer while the second male opened the cigarette drawer and placed its contents in a bag.

The defendant warned Mr Wright not to press the panic button, before he and the other male fled the scene.

In all, the cash and goods taken were worth some £1,180 - the majority of which was cigarettes and e-cigs.

Firearms officers and police dogs were deployed in an effort to trace the defendant.

But when police reviewed CCTV footage of the crime, a local officer "recognised the defendant by his eyes, particularly his eyebrows," Mr King said.

Corey Li (NWP)Corey Li (NWP) (Image: North Wales Police) Before long, word got around that officers were looking for Li and he presented himself at Rhos police station, where he made no comment.

Duncan Bould, defending, told the court: "He accepts full responsibility for what he did.

"He is a young man, and although he is 23 he has clearly behaved in an immature way.

"In fact he is much less mature than his chronological age suggests.

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"There may be reasons for that during his youth and in his absence of education.

"He is keen to improve himself whilst in custody and wants to study his maths and English GCSEs during his sentence.

"One can't get away from the fact an imitation firearm was used.

"This is a young man who has taken a recklessly dangerous approach to a set of life circumstances that faced him."

The court heard those circumstances were that he'd stolen a motorcycle from a person who was threatening him to repay it's value of £2,000.

Judge Nicola Saffman told the defendant: "Mr Wright is to be commended for his stoic and calm approach to what you did.

"You pointed the gun right in his face. Mr Wright was understandably very frightened."

The Judge jailed Li for three years and nine months.