A MAN has appeared in court accused of threatening a shop worker with a knife and stun gun before making off with £80.
Police were called to the Co-op store in Church Road, Braintree, shortly after 8am on Saturday after reports of an armed robbery.
Wayne Ablett, prosecuting, told the court a man entered the Co-op wearing a green motorcycle helmet and demanded cash.
He said: “He approaches the till and speaks to the store manager.
“He says ‘Sorry fella you are going to have to give me money from the till.
“I’m serious, I have got a knife and a stun gun in my bag.’
“No items were shown. [The manager] activated the panic alarm and hands over £80 in cash.
“Police are on the scene by 8.30am and carry out an area search looking for a man wearing a green jacket.”
Ben Cresswell, 37, of Queens Road, Braintree, was arrested later that day and charged with robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.
He was apprehended on a blue mobility scooter on Glebe Avenue.
Cresswell appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning, where he spoke only to confirm his name.
Police claimed to have found a Stanley knife and a lock knife when they searched him.
Hannah Sutton, defending, told the court Cresswell will be denying the charges, but no formal plea has been entered.
She said: “He fully intends to plead not guilty. He says it was a case of mistaken identity.”
Magistrates remanded Cresswell in custody until his next appearance at Chelmsford Crown Court for a formal plea on September 18.
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