High Ercall robbery victim says service could close

Masked raiders wearing boiler suits and armed with a weapon, described as a pick axe handle, robbed a community post office set up inside a village hall.

Stephen Bentley, also a Telford & Wrekin councillor, who runs the outreach service in High Ercall, was tied to a chair with cable ties.

The thieves made off with his till containing abut £2,000, a phone and the keys to his car.

They made off in his Jaguar, but the car was since found abandoned near The Cleveland Arms in High Ercall.

Mr Bentley, 61, from Water's Upton, said he was now having second thoughts about continuing the outreach service, which he does twice a week.

He said: "The likelihood is this service is going to be withdrawn.

"There are discussions I need to have.

"The gain I get out of this, as opposed to the risks involved, I have to consider whether it's worth it or not. If it is withdrawn that is unfortunate for the community of High Ercall."

He said the whole incident had come as a shock to him.

Mr Bentley, who also runs Water's Upton Village Store with his partner Katrina Baker, said: "I was shocked. It was unexpected. You don't expect it in a community like High Ercall.

"I have got to know the people who come in. It's mostly pensioners."

The robbery happened at about 11.30am on Wednesday.

Mr Bentley today made a plea for anyone with information to come forward and help police catch the perpetrators.

Speaking about the robbery, he said: "I had just served someone and she left. Two men burst in wearing what appeared to be dark coloured boiler suits. Their faces were covered with scarves.

"One guy had a pick axe handle, he was banging it around.

"They tied my hands and demanded to see the money. I showed them the cash box.

"They demanded to know about phones. I didn't have any phone other than a landline and it wasn't plugged in.

"They searched me and took my car keys. After they had gone I waited a few minutes and then managed to get one of my hands free.

"I walked with the chair to the kitchen so I could cut the tie off my other hand.

"The entire incident didn't last more than five minutes. They smashed up the post office equipment before they left."

He said when he went outside he noticed his car missing and began walking in the direction of homes of people he knew.

Mr Bentley added: "The two men involved didn't appear to be youngsters, I would say they were between 30 and 40, between 6ft and 6ft 3 inches.

"They didn't speak with a distinctive accent. In my view, they were local.

"My car turned up parked near the Cleveland Arms. Police now have it for forensics.

"If there is anyone who has any kind of knowledge about what happened, however insignificant, they need to contact the police."

Call police on the non-emergency 101 number.

Alternatively, information can be passed on anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.