TWO men have gone on trial charged with robbing convenience stores and a petrol station kiosk.
Lee Watson and Dominic Wright are alleged to have carried out the raids in a two-week period last summer.
Nottingham Crown Court heard how a string of raids were carried out at stores in Langley Mill, Broxtowe, Loscoe, near Heanor, Hucknall and a petrol station kiosk at the Morrisons store in Eastwood.
The robberies happened on various dates in June and July, starting on June 27 at the Co-op in Station Road, Langley Mill.
The jury heard yesterday how one of the robbers had a knife and the other a crowbar and they got away with money from the till.
The next day, a robbery happened at the One Stop shop, in Bells Lane, Broxtowe, when cash was stolen. The robbers again had a knife and a crowbar.
The jury heard how one robber jumped over the counter and used the crowbar to prise open the till.
The accused are also alleged to have robbed the kiosk at the Morrisons filling station, in Eastwood, at 10pm on June 30. Cash was taken.
Prosecutor Jonathan Janes said: "Two men went in. These two, say the prosecution. One of them jumped on to the counter, a frightening sight on any view."
Watson is allegedly linked to the Morrisons robbery by clothing, footwear marks and the evidence of a detective who watched CCTV and identified him.
Wright was linked to the crime after other footwear marks at the scene matched trainers recovered on his arrest on July 12.
More details about the fourth and fifth robberies, on July 9 and July 12, were due to be described to the jury at the trial today.
Mr Janes said all of the robberies had involved two men, with the exception of the fourth – which had involved four men.
During that robbery, cash, cigarettes and a bottle of Jack Daniels were stolen from a Spar shop in Loscoe on July 9.
The case against the two accused was based on circumstantial evidence, the jury was told. Telephone evidence and fingerprint evidence are also to be used.
Mr Janes added: "The issue in this case is not whether any of these robberies occurred, that is self-evident from CCTV.
"The issue is who was responsible."
Watson, 26, of no fixed address, and Wright, 23, of Vale Crescent South, Aspley, deny all five allegations.
The trial continues
