A TEENAGER who was "bent" on becoming an armed robber has lost his appeal to get his sentence cut for holding up a 73-year-old shopkeeper.

Kyle Windsor Edward Hillman, of Waun Heulog, Nantyglo, was found guilty at Cardiff crown court in May this year of attempted robbery, and handed a seven-year detention sentence.

The 17-year-old had pointed a gun at pensioner Thelma George and demanded money from the till of the off- licence where she worked.

At London's Court of Appeal Hillman's legal team attacked his sentence as "manifestly excessive", and claimed that he had not pursued the robbery with any enthusiasm.

But Mr Justice Newman said he was "completely out of control", and a month prior to the offence had been in front of the courts for carrying a bladed article.

"He was bent on upgrading his offending so as to become an armed robber," said the judge. Mr Justice Moses, who was sitting with Mr Justice Newman, later dismissed Hillman's appeal against sentence - and praised Mrs George for the way she dealt with the "terrifying experience".

"She will be thoroughly fed up with expressions of her courage from the courts, but it is impossible not to add to the remarks, praising the courage with which she acted," said Mr Justice Moses.

He told the court that in February this year, Hillman - who had a bad criminal record - took a ball-bearing gun his mother had taken away from him, and, donning a balaclava, went to the off- licence in Brynmawr.

When he demanded money, Mrs George refused, and then - despite being "infirm" because of a recent knee operation - pursued him out of the shop with the aid of her walking-stick.

"This was a bad case of attempted robbery on vulnerable premises involving pre-meditation," observed Mr Justice Moses.

"There's no possible arguable basis for challenging the sentence."