A petrol station in Rhostyllen, Wrexham, was targeted by a masked robber armed with a ‘handgun’, as reported by North Wales Live. Corey Li, along with an accomplice, entered the Esso garage on Wrexham Road on June 8. Both individuals concealed their faces and wore hoods and gloves. Li, of Tudor Avenue, Rhostyllen, covered his face with a scarf. The cashier, Richard Wright, encountered Li and his accomplice upon returning to the shop, where Li pointed the gun at Mr. Wright’s head. The prosecutor informed Mold Crown Court that Li then demanded money from Mr. Wright, pointing the gun inside the shop and firing what sounded like an airgun to the cashier.
Despite realizing the firearm was not real, Mr. Wright complied out of fear for his safety and the unknown intentions of the robbers. Li seized cash from the till while the second person collected cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and cash, totaling £1,180.96 in stolen goods. After warning Mr. Wright not to trigger the panic button, both individuals fled. Li was later identified from CCTV footage by a police officer. Throughout the ordeal, Mr. Wright displayed courage and composure, earning praise from the judge, Her Honour Nicola Saffman.
During the court proceedings, Li, aged 23, accepted his actions, displaying remorse for his immature behaviour. The judge noted that Li brandished an imitation firearm to threaten violence, prompting the deployment of police firearms officers and dog handlers. Consequently, Li was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison for the robbery. Despite Li’s apologies, the severity of the crime warranted a substantial jail term as a consequence of his actions.