A CARRYDUFF man has been jailed for his part in a robbery from a local Mace store.
Ryan Waddell, of Doon Park, entered the store with an accomplice on March 12 last year wearing a balaclava and carrying an imitation firearm.
Staff were cashing up at the time and £600 was stolen.
However, Waddell and the cash were found a short distance from the shop after police were called and a getaway car failed to appear.
The 21 year-old initially made no comment to police during interview but DNA from the recovered balaclava linked him to the scene.
At Downpatrick Crown Court on Monday, defence barrister Ian Turkington said getting involved with the “wrong peer group” had taken Waddell from the family home and from previous low level offending to this serious crime.
He said his client had become involved in drugs and that the robbery had been organised by a third party to pay off a drug debt.
“There is insight and there is remorse,” said Mr. Turkington. “He describes it as the worst decision of his life.”
The barrister added that Waddell had strong family support and a job organised for when he got out of jail.
Judge David Smyth QC said the court had a “duty to protect vulnerable staff”.
Imposing a four year sentence in total, he said a year and nine months should be spent in custody, and the remainder on licence.