Man accused of six travel agency robberies appears in court
A man has appeared in court accused of a string of armed robberies in travel agencies in the north of England.
The 44-year-old is alleged to have targeted Co-operative Travel and Thomas Cook shops between July and September this year.
Alan Roberts, from West Derby, was charged with six counts of robbery and one attempted robbery.
He was also charged with four counts of possession of an offensive weapon and one of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
According to the Liverpool Echo, he is accused of targeting travel agencies in Moreton, West Kirkby, Crosby, Frodsham, Knutsford, Huddersfield and Leek.
Roberts’ defence lawyer indicated to Liverpool Magistrate’s Court that he would plead guilty to the offences and made no application for bail.
Police had launched a CCTV appeal following some of the robberies, in which staff were threatened with a knife.
They said no one was injured in the robberies but staff were left badly shaken.
Roberts was remanded in custody and his case was committed to Liverpool Crown Court on October 13.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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