Masked Robber Holds Up Petrol Station with ‘Handgun’
A robber entered a petrol station in Rhostyllen with a ‘handgun’ and aimed it at the cashier. Corey Li, along with an accomplice, conducted the robbery at the Esso garage on Wrexham Road in Rhostyllen on June 8. Both individuals had covered faces, with Li using a scarf, and they wore hoods and gloves. The cashier, Richard Wright, was approached by Li and his accomplice upon returning to the shop. Li demanded money from him, even pointing the gun directly at Mr. Wright’s head, as per prosecutor Oliver King at Mold Crown Court.
“Li then pointed into the shop and fired. It sounded ‘like an airgun’ to Mr. Wright,†the court heard.
Mr. Wright, unsure of the gun’s nature, cooperated by opening the till as Li grabbed cash from the drawer and the second man filled a bag with cigarettes. In addition to e-cigarettes and stolen cash, the total value of goods taken amounted to £1,180.96. Despite the scare, Mr. Wright remained composed and calm throughout the incident, a display of courage noted by Judge Her Honour Nicola Saffman.
Li, acknowledging his actions, expressed genuine remorse through his defense attorney, Duncan Bould. The judge emphasized that Li had used a fake firearm to threaten violence, prompting a search by police firearms officers and dog handlers to locate him. Consequently, Li, 23, received a prison sentence of three years and nine months for the robbery.