Men in court over Tesco cash machine robbery

The ATM at Tesco in Hinckley was targeted by thieves in November 2017.

Three men in court over two cash machine burglaries in Leicestershire and one in Cambridgeshire have been further charged with causing explosions at the sites.

Charlie Smith, aged 31, of Mere Lane in Bitteswell, Lutterworth, 36-year-old Alfie Adams, of Bickershaw Lane in Wigan, and John Doran, aged 20, of Gelderd Road in Gildersome, Leeds, appeared at Leicester Crown Court. They were each charged with three counts of unlawfully and maliciously causing an explosion of a nature likely to endanger life or cause serious damage to property.

The three admitted these three counts.

The charges relate to the following burglaries in 2017: Co-operative store in Cosby, Leicestershire, on 21 November; Tesco Express, London Road in Hinckley, Leicestershire, on 22 November; and Co-operative store in Burwell, Cambridgeshire, on 22 November.

The offence, contrary to Section 2 of the Explosive Substances Act 1883, can attract a life sentence.

At the same hearing, the three also pleaded guilty to an additional four counts of burglary at the below locations:

• Kate’s Cabin, Great North Road, Chesterton on 28 October 2017
• Post Office, George Street, Lutterworth on 28 October 2017
• Shell Petrol Station, Brook Street, Tring on 8 November 2017
• Co-Operative store, in Rockfield Road, Monmouth on 8 November 2017

All three will be sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on 13th April.