A salesman has been charged with a robbery in which a replica pistol was held to the head of a terrified man during a street robbery in the middle of the night.
Mandip Chana, of Eileen Avenue, off Abbey Lane, Leicester, appeared before city magistrates, yesterday charged with three counts of robbery with a firearm and a further two charges of attempted robbery.
It is alleged that the 23-year-old stalked the streets of Leicester in a car – armed with a gas-powered ball-bearing gun, a copy of a semi-automatic pistol.
Prosecutor Cath Carrie outlined the charges against Chana, who said in court he held a management position as a salesman for British Gas.
Ms Carrie alleged that, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Chana had used the gun to rob three men of their mobile phones in Anstey.
She said the men had been walking in Cropston Road, in the village, at about 2.30am when they noticed a dark-coloured car parked by the side of the road with two men sitting inside .
It is alleged the driver showed them the gun, saying "I'm not going to hurt you. Just step back and empty your pockets''.
The prosecution alleges that the driver put his gun against the head of one of the men, while the passenger pointed his gun at the right arm of a second.
Mobile phones belonging to each of the three victims were allegedly stolen before the suspects drove off .
Forty-eight hours earlier, Chana is alleged to have attempted to rob two men as they made their way home from a city centre nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning.
Ms Carrie said the two men were walking along Briton Street, in the West End, at about 4.15am when they became aware of a car following them.
She alleged: "They heard an electric window going down and saw an Asian male in the driver's seat.
"When they asked if he was lost, he pulled out a gun and started waving it around in a menacing way.
"The men kept walking and he said in an aggressive manner 'give me your phones'."
Chana is alleged to have followed the men into Narborough Road, before doing a three-point turn and driving away.
The victims in the Anstey robbery reported the incident immediately to officers at Beaumont Leys police station.
His alleged accomplice in the Anstey incident remains at large.
No plea was entered, but Chana's solicitor said his client denied any involvement in the alleged offences.
Magistrate Steven Warden refused bail and remanded Chana back in custody.
 |  |
Roy Hodgson Liberal-Conservative coalition Debit cards Wolverhampton Wanderers Argentina Mervyn King
Walang komento:
Mag-post ng isang Komento