Plymouth 'crossbow robbery' teenager appears in court

A TEENAGER has appeared in court accused of robbing a Plymouth Post Office armed with a crossbow.

Lewis Wilde, from Efford, spoke only to confirm his name and address during the short hearing at Plymouth Magistrates' Court.

The heavily tattooed 19-year-old is charged with robbery following an incident at the Efford Road store last Wednesday, December 29.

Detectives are still appealing for information from the public after two men burst into the Post Office – one wielding a crossbow and the other a knife.

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Wilde, of Channel Park Avenue, entered no plea to the single charge, which magistrates heard was so serious it could only be heard in the city's Crown Court.

Prosecutor Sandra Walsingham said Wilde was suspected of entering the store and, jointly with another, robbing the cashier of cash and tobacco products worth around £200.

"This is an armed robbery by two men," she told the court.

She alleged that Mr Wilde was carrying a crossbow and the other male was carrying a knife.

Officers, who had released CCTV footage of the incident, arrested the teen on Thursday.

He was interviewed at Charles Cross Police Station before being charged with the offence.

No application was made for bail during Friday's court hearing and Wilde, appearing in the dock in a striped grey tee-shirt, was remanded in custody.

He is due to appear at Plymouth Crown Court on January 18.

Police have also charged 30-year-old Bradley Thornton of Union Street in Plymouth, with the robbery. He appeared before city magistrates on New Year's Day and police said was also remanded in custody.

A 23-year-old man also arrested on Thursday afternoon in connection with the incident was later released with no further action to be taken against him.

Officers are still keen to hear from witnesses, particularly a woman who was in the store just moments before the robbery.

She is thought to be a regular customer and is described as being white with dark hair.

She wore a dark-coloured coat, carried a red and grey rucksack and left the post office at 6.13am on Wednesday, December 29.

Anybody with details should call police on 08452 777444 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111 quoting crime reference EC/10/13611.