Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Paying too much for broadband? Move to PlusNet broadband and save£££s. Free setup now available - terms apply. PlusNet broadband.  
Results 1 to 1 of 1

Thread: Robberies trial enters second week

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Wick
    Posts
    3,518

    Default Robberies trial enters second week

    Safe was taken in Embo raid
    A BUSINESSMAN told a jury today of how he arrived at his shop/post office in Embo to find that he had been robbed.
    David Hannibal discovered that the thieves had stolen the safe containing £700 and a further 1,200 in stamps and postal orders, Wick Sheriff Court was told when the trial resumed today. The break-in occurred on September 4th, 2007.
    Accused of the robbery, and a series of other break-ins in the Highland area, including premises in Caithness and Sutherland, are John Hind 54, from Colne, Lancashire, and Matthew Peters 40, from Bournemouth, Dorsetshire.
    They deny the Embo break-in and 14 other robberies from business premises, mainly post offices, and stealing a total of £34,497 in cash and £10,508 in stock. The pair have also pleaded not guilty to stealing a car and using it to assault police officer Andrew Cooper to the danger of his life while he was signalling them to stop on the A830 Fort William to Mallaig road.
    Giving evidence on the Embo robbery, Mr Hannibal said that he feared the worst when he arrived at his business in the morning and found the front door ajar. He had already learned of other robberies in the Far North. The safe, which had been bricked into place, had been removed, along with a float of £30 and the proceeds from a charity raffle, amounting to between £40 and £50 pounds. The alarm had been treated with foam to prevent it sounding.
    Mr Hannibal added that the break-in had resulted in him having to close for a couple of days. His losses apart from £400 had been covered by insurance.
    Police officer Steven Parkinson told the court that he had stopped a northbound Vauxhall Omega estate car on the M6 on a routine check and discovered that Peters was driving and Hind was a front seat passenger.
    They said they were heading to Caithness to renovate a cottage and Mr Parkinson added that there were tradesmen’s tools in the back of the vehicle. Both men were co-operative and he saw nothing suspicious.
    The trial, which heard about six other break-ins in the Far North, among them Canisbay, Dunbeath and Wick, continues. It is expected to last five weeks.
    Last edited by Nwicker60; 15-Aug-11 at 19:41.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •