AN armed raider who smashed his way into a department store with an axe and stole jewellery worth £20,000 is behind bars.

Jeremiah McCarthy targeted Nicholls in Abergavenny and made off with a stash of Clogau gold jewellery, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

The 34-year-old, of Fireman’s Court, Brynmawr, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at the Frogmore Street store last autumn.

Outside the court, Sergeant Stephen James, of North Monmouthshire Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “The suspect, together with an accomplice, forced entry to Nicholls department store in the early hours of 4th October 2018 by smashing the window with an axe.

“They then made off with a considerable amount of Clogau gold jewellery valued at approximately £20,000.

“McCarthy was arrested a short time afterwards and extensive enquiries were made by local officers which led to McCarthy pleading guilty at Cardiff Crown Court, and receiving a custodial sentence of 27 months.”

The defendant was jailed by Judge Rhys Rowlands.

It was said in mitigation that he had admitted the raid.