Heroes tackled thief during town centre pharmacy robbery

Carl Llewellyn stole drugs and demanded money from the till during a knifepoint robbery at a pharmacy.

The 38-year-old was twice confronted by brave onlookers who attempted to stop him, with one smashing a plank of wood over his head.

The defendant was later identified and brought to justice by way of a lengthy sentence of imprisonment.

Llewellyn was charged with robbery and possession of a bladed article in public, and he appeared via videolink from HM Prison Altcourse to be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court this morning, Thursday.

Derek Jones, prosecuting, explained how the offences occurred at around 10.15am on July 5 this year at Green Cross Pharmacy on Allen Street, close to the town centre.

Inside the store at the time were three female staff members and a male pharmacist.

A member of the public went to enter the store but was stopped by a ‘shifty’ man, an accomplice of Llewellyn, standing outside who told him it was closed.

The defendant meanwhile, wearing a zipped-up jacket and a hood, had already entered the pharmacy and had produced an eight-inch curved knife.

He demanded money from the till and packs of diazepam tablets – a controlled drug used to treat anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, muscle spasms, and certain types of seizure.

Green Cross Pharmacy on Allen Street. Picture: Google Maps (Image: Google Maps)

A staff member threw some boxes of the drug to him on the floor, and as he bent down to pick them up, the passer-by outside bravely ran into the pharmacy and started shouting at the defendant.

While he was distracted, the male pharmacist tackled Llewelyn, causing him to drop the knife. The defendant picked up the blade and fled the store through the back door.

Once in the back yard, Llewellyn was confronted by a delivery driver after being spotted climbing over a gate to the alley behind, while holding the knife and drugs.

He tried to tackle the defendant, who then threatened the driver with the knife, before the driver grabbed a plank of wood and smashed it over Llewellyn’s head.

This caused him to drop the blade and flee the scene, and although the driver gave chase, the defendant escaped.

Police were called immediately and one of the officers identified the suspect from previous dealings. He was arrested the next day and gave no comment to all questions in his police interview.

The court heard how one of the female staff members suffered a panic attack afterwards, while the robbery has affected her mental health, made her decide to quit her job, never work in a pharmacy again and move away from the area.

Mr Jones revealed to the court that Llewellyn has 24 previous convictions, including three for robbery, one of which saw him rob a taxi driver while possessing a knife.

He also has previous for violence such as assault occasioning actual bodily harm and for burgling a home.

Liverpool Crown Court

In defence of her client, Anna Pope said: “He is in no doubt he will receive a substantial custodial sentence. He recognises this, and there is little I can say in mitigation.

“It was clearly an unpleasant and frightening incident committed by someone looking for money and drugs in broad daylight.”

She described his drug addiction at the time as having ‘spiralled out of control’, but she said he has now reflected on his actions and was ‘moved’ by hearing the victim impact statements.

Before sentencing, judge David Aubrey concluded: “There will be an inevitable sentence of imprisonment, as the offences are so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified.

“You cared not for your victims’ welfare at all, such was your determination to rob them of a quantity of diazepam.

“The manner in which the two people tackled you has to be and must be commended.

“The two were concerned not for their own safety and welfare at the time, notwithstanding the fact that you were in possession of a knife.”

Llewellyn, of Yardley Avenue in Bewsey, was sentenced to six years in prison.

The court also approved an order for the forfeiture and destruction of the knife.

In addition, payments of £100 each will be paid to the pharmacist and the delivery driver to commend them for their public duty.