The judge said the Holyhead problem had arisen in recent months

Judge John Rogers QC told Mold Crown Court it had become a "significant problem" in recent months.

He jailed Gareth Wyn Hughes, 23, for three years after he admitted robbing a young man of his ring.

The judge told him: "People like you have made it unsafe for law-abiding young people to walk along the pavements of Holyhead."

He described Hughes as "one of a hardcore of young men who are terrorising law-abiding young men and woman."

People don't do anything because they are too frightened of him Judge John Rogers on Gareth Wyn Hughes

They threatened people in the street, particularly anyone who was believed to have informed the police about the activities of local criminals.

"The time has come when this can only be dealt with by substantial prison sentences," Judge Rogers warned.

The judge said that Hughes had the attitude 'I am Gareth Wyn Hughes, I can do what I like.'

"People don't do anything because they are too frightened of him," the judge said.

He believed that he, with others, ruled Holyhead. His victim, who he knew, was punched in the face after he handed over the ring.

Karen Dixon, prosecuting, said the victim was told not to tell anyone "or he would come looking for him".

If he told the police, then he would telephone his friends and put him in hospital, he claimed, and also made threats against his family.

Eventual release

It was alleged that Hughes said that he had done it because the victim had informed on one of his friends.

The young victim was so concerned that he told no-one that day, but he confided in his mother the following day and she told him to inform the police.

The robbery had a traumatic effect on the victim who later told how he kept looking over his shoulder, fearing an attack.

Owen Edwards, defending, said that his client had stolen the ring to raise money for drink and drugs.

Now he was away from Holyhead he could see things more clearly, he was taking advantage of courses at Altcourse Prison, and had decided to plead guilty immediately.

He was very sorry for what he had done, accepted that he had been a bully and his behaviour was unacceptable.

Hughes had decided that on his eventual release that he would not return to Holyhead.