Gang accused of armed raids

Gang accused of armed raids

Three Lincoln men charged in connection with a series of armed post office raids across the Midlands have appeared in court.

James Lord, 27, of Maple Street, Tony Smith, 30, of Epsom Road, and Daniel McKenzie, 38, were arrested as part of an operation by Lincolnshire Police.

All three men appeared together before Lincoln Magistrates Court on Thursday.

They are each charged with conspiring to commit armed robberies in the West Midlands, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire.

Firearm used

The charges relate to two robberies on the same post office in Winsford Avenue, Coventry on 5 February 2002, and on 5 November, 2002, when a gun was fired.

They also include two post office robberies in Lincolnshire.

The first was in Hemswell, near Gainsborough, on 24 May, 2002.

The second raid was on 7 November, 2002, in Leadenham, near Grantham, when a firearm was again discharged.

A fifth robbery was foiled at East Markham, Nottinghamshire, on 13 December, 2002.

All three men are also alleged to have conspired to commit robberies in Chesterfield and at Edenthorpe Post Office, Doncaster, on 13 November, 2002.

Magistrates remanded the three into custody and adjourned the case for a hearing at Lincoln Crown Court on 24 April. No pleas were taken.