A NEWPORT man is beginning four and a half years behind bars for his part in an armed robbery in St Julians.

Cardiff Crown court heard how Phillip Williams, 46, of Sickert Close used a special knock to let neighbour Byron Butler know it was him before three other men burst into Mr Butler’s kitchen wearing balaclavas last October.

Once inside Williams, who was not disguised, stayed in the kitchen while the three others held Mr Butler at knife and gun point in his bedroom and asked him where his ‘wadge’ was stashed.

Mr Butler alerted them to a wallet under his pillow before two mobile phones, a top-up card and £500 in cash were also taken from a hole in the wall by the bed.

Prosecutor Huw Evans said it was agreed Williams - one of a handful who knew where the stash was - went to the house reluctantly but voluntarily because he was ‘scared and fearful’ of not complying.

Mr Butler punched the man holding the gun and made his escape before calling police.

Williams, a father-of-five, pleaded guilty to robbery on the basis he was coerced into it by another man and had no idea weapons would be used.

Defending, Laurence Jones called for a reduced sentence due to Williams’ early guilty plea and the fact he was full of remorse.

He said his client had started using heroin after he lost his job and his marriage broke down, but did not seek to use drink or drugs as an excuse.

Recorder Nicholas Cooke QC said the usual sentence for such an offence would be 10 to 12 years but agreed to a lower term because Williams, who will serve half before being released on licence, was pressured into it.