Launceston men jailed after fake tyre call led to gunpoint robbery

It started as an ordinary piece of business, a call about changing a tyre on a BMW. It ended with a replica gun held to a man’s head and a bracelet worth thousands gone from his wrist. Two men formerly of North Petherwin, near Launceston, are now serving prison sentences for the robbery that followed.

Two men sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court

Jack Felton, 24, and John Chapman, 43, both formerly of North Petherwin, have been sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court over a robbery carried out on 29 January.

At an earlier hearing, Jack pleaded guilty to robbery and to possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. He was jailed for four years and nine months in April.

John pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to three years and two months on Monday 11 August.

A fake call about a tyre

The court heard that Jack had contacted the victim’s business, saying he wanted a tyre changed on his BMW. The victim arrived at the agreed location in his van. Jack climbed into the passenger seat, pulled out a replica gun and held it against the victim’s temple.

He demanded the victim’s bracelet, worth around £13,000, and his phone. The victim handed them over.

Jack then told him to get out. As the victim did, John appeared with his hoodie pulled tightly over his face to hide who he was.

The two men repeatedly told the victim to get into the back of his van, then slammed the door and locked him inside. The side door had not locked properly, so he was able to push it open, and he watched the pair drive away in the BMW.

Armed response and a helicopter search

At 2.10pm the victim called police to Buckland Terrace in Yelverton, where the robbery had happened, and reported that he had been held up at gunpoint and robbed.

Devon and Cornwall Police deployed an armed response, supported by the force helicopter, to search for the two men. They were traced to a property in North Petherwin, near Launceston, and arrested that same afternoon.

Both men gave a no comment interview. They were charged and later pleaded guilty to the offences.

What the investigating officer said

DC Ali Cornforth, the investigating officer, said the outcome came from officers across the force dealing with a serious incident with “relentless professionalism and efficiency”.

She added: “This result would not have been possible without the courage of the victim to assist in the investigation after such a traumatic experience, and we thank them for their support and bravery.”

📷Credit: Devon & Cornwall Police