A PONTYPOOL man who robbed a mother and daughter of takings from a petrol station, kicking one of them as she lay on the ground, was jailed for six years yesterday.

Matthew Peter Waters, 27, of Nicholas Street, was found guilty of robbery following a three-day trial at Cardiff Crown Court.

He had previously denied the robbery of Sara and Vicky Wedlock on April 19, 2010, outside Barclays bank, Commercial Street, Pontypool.

Prosecutor Christian Jowett said Sara Wedlock, who manages Texaco petrol stations in Blaenavon and Pontnewynydd, was with her daughter Vicky taking £11,305.31 and some cheques to the bank at around 3.30pm.

The court heard Waters was in the street on a motorcycle that was being driven by another man.

Both were hiding their identities.

When Waters tried to grab the bags, both women fought against his attempts, leading to Vicky Wedlock falling to the floor.

Waters then kicked her in the body twice, leaving her bruised, before he left with the money.

The court heard Waters has 27 convictions for 47 offences between June 13, 2001, and June 28, 2011.

On June 28 last year, after the Pontypool robbery, Waters was sentenced to six months for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and at the same hearing was given four-and-a-half years for conspiracy to commit burglary.

Representing Waters, Ieuan Bennett said Waters was 25 when the incident happened, and no weapon was used.

Sentencing him, Mr Recorder Winston Roddick QC said: “In my judgement you must have known the bank routine and must have known they were carrying a substantial amount of money.

“You knew the persons around who this robbery was based were defenceless females.”

The sentence will be served concurrently to the sentence which Waters is already serving.

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing is due to be heard on March 22.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Leigh Mears acknowledged the bravery and the assistance of the two victims as well as witnesses who had helped with the case.

He said: “Officers carried out a thorough investigation involving substantial forensic enquiries and it was a combination of all of these things that has led to justice being done.”

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Revolting robber

MATTHEW Peter Waters, jailed yesterday for the robbery of a mother and daughter, is a special kind of underclass.

Not content with stealing money from Sara and Vicky Wedlock, and terrifying them in the process, he also kicked one of the women as she lay on the floor.

Both women were very brave to put up a fight against the robber. However, people like Waters will stop at nothing when carrying out a crime.

Yesterday he got six years. It would be nice if he spent every day of that behind bars.

Sadly though he will probably be back on our streets within three years.

We at least hope he spends the time he is in his cell thinking about what he has done, and the effect it will have on his victims’ lives.