5:13pm Monday 23rd April 2007
By Anita Deshmukh
A MAN who robbed Troopers Lodge Service Station at Bourton-on-the-Hill at knifepoint on Sunday morning was arrested shortly afterwards following a police chase.
The man, aged 23 and said to be from Moreton, had held up staff at knifepoint - stealing £46 in cash and the keys to a white Vauxhall Astra car which he made off in.
Staff rang police who set off in pursuit. The car was stopped near Beckford in Worcestershire.
The man was arrested and charged with robbery, aggravated vehicle taking, taking a vehicle without consent, failing to stop, and driving without insurance.
He was also charged in connection with a robbery at the Colnside Service Station in Andoversford earlier this month. He has been remanded in custody.
Acting Inspector Owen Hughes of Stow Police said: "This was an extremely effective piece of police work that involved both Gloucestershire officers and our colleagues in West Mercia.
"The speed of the police response meant we were able to arrest this individual in a timely manner and he will now go before the courts."
The service station confirmed none of its staff had been hurt in the robbery but refused to comment further.
It has been hit by minor incidents this year - in the most recent, bulbs were pulled from plant pots on the forecourt.
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