A TEENAGER was robbed in his own home after being tied up with cable and threatened with a knife.

The victim, who had that day moved into his own flat for the first time, was warned he would be killed if he told the police, Mold Crown Court heard yesterday.

Richard Lee Owen, 18, was left tied up in Well Street, Holywell, and it took him more than an hour to get free.

Robber Daniel James Jones, 22, had poured cooking oil around the flat and on the furniture.

Out of fear the victim did not report the robbery to the police until he was visited by relatives the next day.

Jones, now of Crescent Road, Wrexham, admitted robbing Mr Owen of his watch, mobile phone and £20 in cash. He was jailed for four years.

Co-defendant Sky Hansom, 19, of Ffordd Dwyfa, Greenfield, admitted giving police false information to impede Jones’ arrest. She was given a 24-week youth custody term, suspended for a year.

Hansom was also ordered to follow a 10-session probation course and was tagged to ensure she remains at home at night for three months.

Proceedings were halted at one stage because of Hansom’s behaviour in the dock.

The judge asked her barrister, Andrew Green, to have a word with her because “she seems to find this highly amusing”. She apologised.

Sandra Subacchi, prosecuting, said the victim was having a cigarette at the window of his second floor flat.

He saw Hansom, another woman and Jones outside, he knew one of them and asked them in. They spent time drinking and listening to music and everything was fine but an hour later Jones “suddenly snapped”.

The two others left when Jones got up off the sofa and dragged his victim to the floor.

He went into the kitchen and returned to the lounge with a knife. Jones then cut wires to the television and digital box and used them to tie the victim tightly by the wrists.

“The victim was extremely scared and thought he was going to be stabbed,” Miss Subacchi said.

Jones removed his victim’s watch from his wrist and for some reason poured cooking oil over the walls of the flat and around the furniture.

As he left Jones said: “Tell the police and I will kill you.”

Hansom gave police a false story and text messages were found on her phone.

Judge Niclas Parry said it was “a serious robbery with some sinister elements”.

It was a wholly unprovoked attack on a young man in his own home, a knife was used and the victim was threatened that he would be killed.

Justine McVitie, for Jones, said Jones was remorseful and appreciated how frightening it had been for the victim. He had committed the offence under the influence of alcohol.

Mr Green, for Hansom, said she had a baby and had stayed out of trouble since.