Locked up for hold-up

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

A Penticton stick-up artist will serve another 160 days in jail.

Simon Bell was handed the sentence, on top of time served, for a total 261 days in jail for his part in the November 2015 incident, not reporting to police while on bail, and breach of curfew and alcohol and weapons conditions.

His victim told court four or five people entered his home, pointed a gun at him and demanded $75.

One man held a gun, while another had either a metal bar or a knife.

One of the intruders had been evicted from the house two weeks prior.

The woman allegedly demanded the money for drugs lost while moving out.

The victim told police he woke up to a .22 pistol pointed at his head.

Some of the intruders went upstairs and began banging on doors, demanding money.

The man with the gun told residents of the house they would be back in a few hours, then the group left without taking anything.

Soon thereafter, RCMP spotted Bell and another man walking along Winnipeg Street.

They matched the suspects' descriptions. A search of their backpack produced a black air gun and a black pipe.

The two were arrested and were positively identified in a police lineup.

In a statement to police, the second man said he had an argument with his wife that evening, and went out to party. He met up with the group, and did a "hot line" (snorted methamphetamines) before they went out.

Once on the road, one of the men said: "We have an army, now," and revealed the pistol. The group then arrived at the house where the hold-up took place.

Bell was released on bail after his arrest, but late last year began failing to report to police.

He was re-arrested Feb. 8 after sleeping in a Denny's booth and refusing to leave. He smelled of liquor and was carrying two knives and a crack pipe.

Bell will also serve a year of probation after his jail time.