Two brothers have been sent to prison after a shocking robbery that took place in a busy Lidl supermarket in Swansea 🚨
James Holt, 44, and Nicholas Holt, 37, followed their vulnerable victim around town after he pawned his phone for £350 at Cash@Maxx in Swansea city centre. The pair targeted the man, who later suffered an epileptic fit due to the stress of the incident.
Swansea Crown Court heard how the brothers attacked the man inside Lidl at Parc Tawe retail park, manhandling him and going through his pockets, stealing £60 in cash and a set of keys. During the robbery, Nicholas Holt threatened to kill the victim and warned him not to call the police. The attack only ended when Lidl staff stepped in.
Judge Huw Rees condemned the brothers’ actions as “a disgraceful example of two older men bullying a younger man” and added, “there is nothing more cowardly than bullying, and it is to your shame that you behaved in that way.”
The court was told James Holt has 127 previous offences on his record, while his brother Nicholas has 60 prior offences. The judge described their criminal histories as “shameful” and told James Holt that he had made it his “life’s work” to commit a variety of offences.
Both men pleaded guilty to robbery and were each sentenced to 27 months in prison. They will serve up to half their sentences in custody before being released on licence.
