Three teens, led by 18-year-old Cody Bond, thought they’d hit the jackpot breaking into Merthyr Tydfil’s Tesco Extra at 4am. Instead, they quickly discovered their plan wasn’t as foolproof as they imagined. CCTV captured the moment the gang smashed through reinforced glass doors, armed with a machete and house bricks, setting off an alarm that led to their eventual arrest.
Bond, already infamous with 27 prior offences, and his two 15-year-old accomplices, swaggered into the store puffing on vapes and treating it like their personal playground. Bond even helped himself to items from a counter, but the buzzing thrill didn’t last. Unbeknownst to the rambunctious trio, triggering the alarm led to smoke enveloping the supermarket.
Underestimating the alarm system’s efficiency, the yobs soon found the police surrounding the store. They attempted to hide behind wheelie bins but were swiftly caught and arrested. Bond, who has a history of crime spanning from ABH assault to burglary, sat hunched in court as he pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and knife possession.
Judge Lucy Crowther condemned Bond’s “playground” antics, handing down a 40-month sentence, emphasising his repeated chances to reform that went unheeded. Despite a troubled upbringing and influences, Bond holds hope of a fresh start upon release, with a job offer from his father.
This latest slip adds to Bond’s hefty track record of offenses since age 14, marking a turning point he hopes to overcome. The two unnamed minors were dealt lighter sentences in youth court, aimed at rehabilitation. It’s a lesson for the trio: what may seem thrilling and rebellious in the dark of night loses its allure in the cold light of day!