A getaway driver who refused to rat on the rest of the gang has been jailed for five years.

John Miller said he feared his life and the life of his mother would be in grave danger if he cooperated with the police.

But his refusal to name names has landed him a lengthy jail sentence – even though he was not directly involved with the armed robbery itself.

The gun-wielding trio who terrified staff at a shop in West Bay has never been caught for the crime.

Speaking after passing sentence, Mr Justice Charles Quin said: “The fear he has for himself and his family will only spread if criminals are allowed to thrive and remain at large.”

After his arrest Miller said he wasn’t involved in the armed robbery and had received a phone call asking to be picked up.

He claimed that when he arrived at The Shoppe on Watercourse Road in November last year, the armed gang was leaving the store.

He gave them a lift and was stopped by police after dropping them off.

The Grand Court heard how the trio had threatened staff at the store with handguns before stealing $550 and two mobile phones.

The owner of The Shoppe, Mr Glasford Dawkins said via video link: “I feel scarred from thinking about that night of the robbery with the gun being pointed at me, thinking how lucky I am to be alive.

“I am pondering right now if I should continue with the business or just close down for good. I wouldn’t like anyone to go through this because I can tell you now, it’s not a good feeling.”

But Mr Justice Quin said despite the threat to his family, Miller’s refusal to cooperate with the police is “deeply regrettable” and there is no long term good for the community when criminals are allowed to thrive.

He said:  “Robbery is a very serious criminal offence. These three gunmen caused extreme fear in the minds of at least four, and probably five, persons at the scene. Therefore it can only be described as a robbery of the most serious kind and of the kind which has plagued Grand Cayman over the past few years.

“The gunmen are still at large and their guns have not been recovered.

“This defendant has decided that, due to a fear for his safety and that of his family, he will not assist the Crown, the Court or indeed, himself, by identifying the gunmen, or by providing some information which could assist the police to recover the three guns used against these law abiding and hardworking persons.

“This court is compelled to comment on the fact that this absence of cooperation with the police is a deeply regrettable consequence of the pervasive and abhorrent influence these criminals have on our community.

“To this defendant I state that the fear he has for himself and his family will only spread if criminals are allowed to thrive and remain at large. I would implore this defendant to examine carefully all the consequences related to his silence, in the round, and understand that there is no long term good for him, his family or the community when criminals are allowed to thrive and their actions go unpunished.”