A MAN has been sentenced to four years and eight months in prison for attempting to rob a jewellery shop in Oxford’s Covered Market.

Lee Pullen, of Saxton Road, Abingdon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal between March 20 and March 30, 2013, and was jailed yesterday at Oxford Crown Court.

The 32-year-old admitted being part of the armed raid, which took place on March 30, 2013, at John Gowing Jewellers.

His friend Clint Townsend, of Barton Road, Oxford, was also involved in the raid and died after he was tackled to the ground and restrained by several members of the public.

Last year a coroner ruled the 33-year-old’s death was caused by a “misadventure” after he suffered a cardiac arrest.

Prosecutor Matthew Walsh said the two men planned to rob the store after smashing its window and then use a motorbike stolen from the West Oxford area to make their getaway.

Mr Walsh said owner John Gowing saw the pair, who were wearing motorbike helmets, at about 9.15am pushing the vehicle through the market.

He said Townsend then used a sledgehammer and pole to smash the shop’s window, while Pullen remained on the motorbike.

Mr Walsh said shop manager Andrew Hill suffered cuts and bruises all over his body while trying to restrain Townsend on the floor after he broke in to the jewellers.

He said Mr Hill feared for his life and suffered swelling to his temple after being headbutted by Townsend, while members of the public “joined in to make sure Townsend was not going to escape”.

Mr Walsh said when police officers arrived at the scene they noticed Townsend was “unresponsive” and “not moving”, with his lips turning blue.

He added that Townsend was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation before being taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, where he later died.

Mr Walsh said Pullen, who had remained on the bike, fled the scene “shredding some of the evidence he thought might incriminate him” in a wheelie bin near the market.

Pullen then took a bus to St Clement’s before being arrested at his girlfriend’s flat later that evening, Mr Walsh said.

Mr Walsh added Mr Gowing said it cost about £1,200 to replace the damaged three-layer laminated glass window.

And he estimated he lost £2,000 after being unable to open the shop following the incident.

In his statement, Mr Gowing added: “There has not been a day since the incident that I have not thought about it.

“This severe and unwarranted action has led me to waking up at night on a regular basis and having many sleepless nights.”

Defence barrister Harriet Johnson told the court that Pullen “was not as involved as Mr Townsend was”.

She said Pullen was approached by Townsend, who told him he was in “significant debt” and could “see no way out”.

She added: “He makes no excuses for this agreement. He wanted to help his friend. He feels regret and enormous remorse for his part in what occurred.

“If it had not taken place, then his friend Mr Townsend may still be alive.”

Judge Ian Pringle said: “There was considerable planning to it.

“Mr Hill managed to overpower your friend Mr Townsend along with the help of some other people.

“Tragically, your friend lost his life in that struggle.”