A staff member took hold of him with the support of customers in the shop and detained him while waiting for police to turn up
16:44, 15 Jan 2026
A robbery was foiled by an employee of a bookies and customers after he jumped over the top of the counter and shouted: "Give me the money from the safe." He was detained by people in the shop and when police arrived he told them: "I just want to go back to prison."
Neil Upton, 55, attended Ladbrokes, in Malpas Road, Newport, on November 29 last year and a member of staff was alerted the defendant had jumped over the counter. There was a confrontation between the staff member and Upton, who shouted: "Give me the money from the safe."
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday heard the defendant threw two punches at the staff member and caused damage to his glasses. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here.
Fortunately he suffered no injuries. The staff member then took hold of Upton with the support of customers in the shop and detained him while waiting for police to turn up.
The defendant shouted at the staff member: "Get off me you fat c***." When police did arrive at the shop Upton said: "I just want to go back to prison."
The defendant was arrested and interviewed and when asked he committed the offence he said he wanted to return to jail.
Upton, of Fairoak Avenue, Newport, later pleaded guilty to assault with intent to rob. The court heard he has 33 previous convictions including multiple offences of dishonesty and theft.
Gareth Williams said his client has "problems with addiction" and looks back at the offence with an attitude of: "What was I doing?"
Judge Paul Hobson sentenced Upton to 15 months imprisonment. The defendant was also made subject to a restraining order for three years preventing him from attending Ladbrokes in Malpas Road.
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