A 29-year-old masked robber called off his heist and apologized to the barwoman after she recognized his voice and identified him by calling out his name.

29-year-old Luke Jones was sentenced on Tuesday (March 10, 2020) for the incident, which happened in December 2019.

Last year, he threatened Yvette Smith, a bartender at the Emporium Snooker Club, with a gun.

Smith was reportedly closing the south Wales club in Bargoed at around 11:15 pm on December 27, 2019, when Jones burst through the door and waved the gun in her face.

The gun that Jones was using was fake, but Smith reportedly believed that it was actually real.

The Cardiff Crown Court heard that Jones was a customer at the club and knew Smith because he was a frequent visitor.

In the past, Jones reportedly offered to help out, but Smith was suspicious about him after he started to ask her about the cashing-up procedure.

When he pulled out his gun, Smith told Jones: “Why are you doing this, Luke?”

The bartender recognized the robber and said Jones removed his balaclava when Smith called out his name.

The court said, “Miss Smith was particularly fearful of guns as one of her family took his own life with a firearm. Jones would have known this as she had told him about it.”

The court heard Jones then told her that it was not a real gun and that he was only joking.

He then proceeded to remove his mask, gloves and hugged Smith so he could console her.

He also took apart the weapon to show Smith that it was a fake gun.

As a result of the incident, Smith said she had to take prescribed medication so she could sleep properly.

In a statement that she released, she said, “I’m absolutely petrified following this incident. I’m distraught. I do not know if I can work in the bar again. I honestly thought it was a real gun and I was going to be killed. Even talking about it to the police is upsetting to me. I could not sleep last night as every time I closed my eyes I could see a gun in my face.”

Edward Mitchard, defending, said Jones carried out the attempted robbery to try and fund his bad drug habit.

He said Jones also offered Smith a drink after taking his mask off and said that only 12 seconds passed by when Jones entered the bar and removed his mask.

After the incident, Jones fled the club and hid in the attic of his father’s house, which is located just a couple of yards away from the scene.

The police found Jones later and came down the attic 15 minutes later.

Jones said he was trying to play a joke, but did not realize the effect his actions would leave on Smith.

Micheal Fitton, a judge, said, “You were out to get money for drugs. You clearly terrified [Smith] and she still suffers trauma from the impact of the event.”

At the time of the attempted robbery, Jones, the robber, was out on bail after the police found heroin and a knuckleduster in his possession.

Jones pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, possession of an imitation firearm with the intent to cause fear of violence and possession of cannabis.

Jones ended up getting a total of 8 years in Jail.

Jones will serve half his sentence before getting released on license.

Jones was also ordered by the judge to pay a victim surcharge.

He was also given a 15-year restraining order to not contact Smith, the bartender.