Man charged and remanded in relation to robbery at McColl's newsagents

An 18-year-old man was remanded into custody after appearing before St Albans Magistrates Court today charged in connection with robbery at McColl's Newsagents in Stevenage High Street on Monday evening (February 14).

Ryan Sobey of Gonville Crescent, Stevenage is also charged in connection with an unrelated offence of the attempted robbery of a taxi driver which happened in Travellers Lane Hatfield on Tuesday (February 15) at 9.45pm.

In total he faces five charges which are robbery, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, possession of a bladed article namely a knife and possession of a class B drug namely cannabis.

Local Policing Command Chief Superintendent Richard Liversidge said: "This was a fast-moving investigation which involved positive collaboration between different policing teams across the command.

"The arrest and charging of a suspect is significant and is the result of hard work and determination."

He is due to appear at St Albans Crown Court on March 21