A JUDGE has described a 71-year-old postmistress as ‘resilient’ after she refused to hand over money in an attempted robbery in Machen.

Carol Jones, 71, who has been a postmistress at Graig y Rhacca Post Office for more than 30 years, was working on Sunday, February 8 this year when two men wearing balaclavas came into the post office at around 11am carrying a ‘pistol.’

James Price, aged 16, of Keble Court, Machen, and David Andrews, aged 21, of no fixed abode, were sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday, for attempted robbery, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and burglary.

Both defendants pleaded guilty at a preliminary hearing.

John Probert, prosecuting, told the court the defendants had entered the post office with one of them carrying a ‘pistol.’ One of the defendants then put the ‘pistol’ in Mrs Jones’ face and demanded money.

Mr Probert said: “She said if you've not left here in five seconds I’ll get the police here using the alarm system.”

They left the post office immediately and Mrs Jones served another customer before calling the police.

The court heard that the defendants had pre-planned the attack after hearing of a similar robbery at the post office on January 17, 2014, where two men armed with a knife stole £1,600.

Price and Andrews then went to a property on Longfellow Gardens at 11.30am where they stole £52 in cash from a tin in the kitchen and damaged a window. They were also in possession of a hammer.

Police arrested Price at his home and found a blue bb gun along with a balaclava and a paint balling mask.

Kevin Seal, defending Price, said: "He appears to have expressed genuine remorse and recognises the serious nature of his actions.”

Hashim Salman, defending Andrews, said Andrews' had a history of drug misuse in particular valium and cannabis. He said no one had suffered any physical injuries during the incident.

Recorder of Cardiff Eleri Rees, said: “To her credit she showed great resilience she stood her ground and then called the police. You were armed with an imitation firearm- she had no idea if it was a real firearm or not."

Price was sentenced to a total of three and a half years imprisonment.

Andrews was sentenced to a total of four years and eight months imprisonment.

Simon Jones, 48, son of Carol Jones, said after the sentencing, said: "I’m not surprised that the younger one got less time but I'm disappointed that Andrews didn't get longer for the seriousness of the crime.

“She was resilient on that day but then went downhill. She has picked up now.”

He said she was back to working one day a week at the post office.

He added: “Police caught them within 20 to 30 minutes - that is a relief not just to us but everybody in the community.”

Detective Constable Simon White said: “This was a particularly frightening incident which left the victims extremely shaken. We would like to thank them and members of the community for being so helpful and co-operative and that, along with good work from officers from a number of specialities across the force, led to the arrests shortly after the reported incidents.

“I would also like to pay tribute to the spirit of the community in pulling together, residents will no doubt be reassured that these two individuals are now in the custody of the prison service.”