A man who was robbed of his wallet and baseball cap on his way to work at 7am had been left feeling unsafe walking the streets of Rhyl, a court heard.

The victim now wanted to move from the area, Mold Crown Court was told as
27-year-old Ben Ward, of Gwynfryn Avenue, Rhyl, was jailed for 20 months.

He admitted the robbery last month.

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said Ward had been “pumped up and aggressive” and his target shaking with fear.

The victim broke down in tears later.

Ward was described as remorseful. But the judge told him: “This was a street robbery in the early hours of the morning by a man heavily under the influence of alcohol and caused considerable fear to your victim.”

After the case, Det Insp Chris Bell of St Asaph CID said: “Those in our communities who use violence in the commission of crimes must realise there is a consequence to their actions. Ward’s conduct on a public street in June subjected an innocent person to the fear of immediate violence and it is reassuring to see the court acknowledging such in the sentence handed out.

“I welcome the sentence and hope this goes some way to reassuring both the victim of Ward’s crime and the local community that we will act robustly against those who seek to use violence and intimidation on others.”