A LLANELLI hotel owner was blackmailed by an armed man who threatened to make allegations against him.
Andrew Deakin, aged 32, had a gun tucked into the back of his trousers when he forced Paul Francis to count out £300 inside the Half Way hotel in Llanelli.
His brother George Deakin, 40, was outside the hotel as back up and armed with a baseball bat.
Andrew Deakin, of Corner House, Port Talbot Road, Port Talbot, admitted blackmail and was jailed for two and a half years by a judge at Swansea Crown Court last Friday (May 27).
George Deakin, of Dinas Road, Baglan, admitted possessing an offensive weapon and was jailed for 12 months.
Stephen Rees, prosecuting, said Andrew Deakin had been a pupil at Ffynone House School, Swansea, when Mr Francis had been an assistant teacher there.
Years later their paths crossed again.
By then Mr Francis had taken over the Half Way hotel and the pair decided to extract money from him.
Mr Rees said police were able to trace text messages sent by the brothers.
Andrew Deakin to George Deakin, “I feel sick and on top on top of the moon at the same time. We are going to take him for every penny he’s got. He’s inherited the biggest pub in Llanelli from his parents. This is going to be awesome.”
GD to AD:”I have three guns and a baseball bat.”
AD to GD, “I’ll message him to pick me up.”
Mr Rees said Mr Francis was ordered to drive to a cash point while Andrew Deakin sat in the back holding an imitation firearm. George Deakin followed in a silver Mercedes.
Once there Mr Francis realised he had not taken his debit card and Andrew Deakin told him to drive to the Half Way Hotel “and made various threats during the journey.”
Andrew Deakin told him, “Things could get more sinister if there isn’t money at the hotel.”
Once there Deakin tucked the gun into the back of his trousers and walked Mr Francis into the hotel, where Mr Francis handed over £300.
Meanwhile, said Mr Rees, George Deakin had emerged from the Mercedes holding the baseball bat.
Andrew Deakin seemed to signal to him that there would be no need for violence as he had got some money, but as they left the hotel they warned Mr Francis, “We will be back. Keep your mouth shut.”
The following day, Andrew Deakin sent Mr Francis a message reading, “Are you sorting it out or do we have to come up there?”
Mr Francis contacted the police and the brothers were arrested.
Andrew Deakin said the £300 had been a “pay off” and not the result of blackmailing. He said he armed himself with a gun for self protection.
George Deakin, once a professional jockey and later a chef, said he had followed his brother to the hotel to ensure his safety.
Brian Richardson, the barrister representing Andrew Deakin, said it had always been his case that he had a complaint about Mr Francis dating back to his time at Ffynone House.
James Hartson, for George Deakin, said he had acted as an enforcer “in this very foolish enterprise.”
The judge, Mr Recorder Nicholas Gareth Jones, told the brothers, “This was not a spur of the moment incident. You set him up.”
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