Man charged with raid on post office

Mar 19 2008 by Lisa Jones, South Wales Echo

A SOUTH Wales man has appeared in court charged with the armed robbery of an Essex post office.

Adrian Jones, a 38-year-old tent builder from the Tudor Estate, Caerau, Maesteg, was before magistrates in Grays, Essex yesterday charged with robbery, possession of a shotgun while committing an offence, possession of a firearm when prohibited to do so and possession of ammunition when prohibited to do so.

The charges relate to the armed robbery of a post office, which is in the Fairway Foodtown grocery store, Doddinghurst, Essex, on Wednesday, March 5.

During the raid a four figure sum of cash was stolen at gunpoint.

A man demanded money from staff. A worker tipped off police but the gunman fled before they arrived, leading to an unsuccessful police helicopter search.

The scene was cordoned off so that scenes of crime officers could scour the area for forensic evidence.

Police and community support officers increased patrols in the area after the robbery as a reassurance exercise.

Jones was arrested in the Essex area on Sunday evening and charged on Monday evening.