Woman drove getaway car past police at Shropshire store robbery scene, court told
A woman was arrested for her part in an armed robbery at a store in a Shropshire village – after driving back past the scene of the crime while police were still there investigating.
Angela Colohan is accused of acting as the getaway driver in a raid on the Corner Shop in Morda, near Oswestry.
The jury had been told a masked man burst into the store in November 2014 and pointed a gun in the face of terrified shop assistant Mandeep Kaur before escaping with the till and two charity boxes.
The gunman was Jamie Watkiss, 29, of Llys Road, Oswestry, who has already admitted his part and will be sentenced at the end of Colohan's trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court.
Colohan, 31, of Hammonds Place, Gobowen, denies robbery and being in possession of an imitation firearm, a Berretta BB gun, with intent to commit the offence.
Statements were read out in court yesterday from police officers called to the scene after terrified staff reported the robbery.
Sergeant Keith Steele, of West Mercia Police, said officers were given a partial registration plate and colour – black – for the car Watkiss escaped in after the raid.
He said a black car matching the description and partial plate went past the shop while officers were outside – and police pursued and eventually brought the black Honda Accord to a stop.
The court heard Colohan was in the driver's seat and an air rifle was found in the boot. Nearly £70 in change was also found in a phone case in the car, Sgt Steele said.
A statement from Constable Julie Ellis said Colohan told her she had bought the BB gun that day, and the rifle found in the boot also belonged to her.
Watkiss had told the jury the gun belonged to Colohan and the robbery was all her idea. He said after the robbery he had returned home and had burned his clothes and was "disgusted" with what he had done.
A piece of plastic door trim which dropped out of the car and was carried into the shop by Watkiss was left in the store and was later matched to Colohan's vehicle.
Colohan's mobile phone was also tracked to a spot where the till – which did not contain any money – had been thrown from the car window minutes after the raid.
Earlier, the jury was told that while Colohan did not enter the shop, it was a joint enterprise and he alleged that she and Watkiss were "in it together".
In a statement read to the court on Tuesday, Mandeep Kaur Singh said a man burst in wearing tights over his head and had pointed a gun at her face and shouted "give me the money and I won't shoot you".
The victim had tried to open the till, but her mother appeared and dragged her daughter in the living area at the side of the shop and locked the door and alerted police.
The trial continues.
