A RAIDER admitted robbing a terrified 20-year-old at the point of a shotgun which left his victim traumatised.

Lee Bidmead, of Argoed Farm, Shirenewton, pleaded guilty to robbing Bernie Hookings of three watches, a camera and a safe at a house in Langstone on November 15.

The 34-year-old also pleaded guilty at Newport crown court to possessing the shotgun with intent to use it in a robbery. He was remanded in custody and sentence was adjourned.

After the hearing, Mr Hookings' mother Mary told the Argus her son was on his own in their Langstone Lane house when the raid happened.

During the terrifying ordeal Mr Hookings was tied up and locked in the downstairs toilet. But he managed to free himself and fled to a neighbour's house to raise the alarm.

His parents were alerted and went straight home. Said his mother: "When we got back and saw all the armed police up here we realised it was a bit more than a break-in. When we were told we couldn't got back in the house I was really scared. I thought Bernie had been killed." She said her son, who was badly shaken and suffered cuts and bruises, was still receiving counselling.

"Bernie wants to go and see the sentencing so he'll hopefully be able to get some closure on it all.

"He's better than he was although he still finds some things difficult," she said.

Mrs Hookings said the family had increased security at their home and installed cameras and panic buttons.

She praised the professional way the police acted. "I can't speak highly enough of them," she said.

Outside the court Detective Inspector Steve Webber said the breakthrough was the recovery of property which led them to Bidmead.

Armed officers were put on surveillance "because of the high level of threat," said Mr Webber.

Another man and a woman also face charges.