Last month, we sought information regarding an attempted robbery in Cardiff city centre. Thanks to the excellent teamwork of CCTV operators, response officers, and detectives, two men have been sentenced to prison.
On March 1, 2024, a 19-year-old man was walking down Barrack Lane, behind M&S in Cardiff city centre, around 10:30 PM when he was approached by two men wearing balaclavas and riding bikes. They assaulted him and demanded his phone. The victim refused and called for help, prompting the suspects to flee when a food delivery person passed by.
The police were contacted, and CCTV operators immediately began searching the city centre for the suspects. They were spotted on camera on Wood Street near the Vue Cinema, leading to the arrest of David Parsons and Jordan Chapman.
Parsons, 36, was found in possession of a large knife and weighing scales in his rucksack. Chapman, 27, had wraps of cannabis, £700 in cash, and a burner phone.
Both men pleaded guilty and were sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on May 17. Chapman received a 16-month prison sentence for attempted robbery, plus an additional six months concurrently for possession of cannabis with intent to supply. Parsons was sentenced to 15 months for attempted robbery, with an additional four months concurrently for possession of a knife.