Man charged after knifepoint robbery at Rochford c-store

Essex Police said they have secured a charge against a man after knifepoint robbery at a shop in Rochford.

Police were contacted at around 6.50pm on 30 June with reports of a robbery at a convenience store in West Street.

It was reported one suspect entered the shop and demanded cash, before leaving with a two-figure sum.

Officers attended and enquiries have continued throughout the past week, leading to the arrest of Jay Phipps, 37, of Rochford Garden Way on 4 July.

Phipps has since been charged with robbery and appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on 6 July.

Meanwhile, officers tackling shoplifting has secured nine charges against a man, following an investigation by community policing team officers.

Kieran Spilling, 40, of no fixed address, is alleged to have breached a five-year order banning him from entering certain shops in Chelmsford.

The order further prohibits him from carrying open containers of alcohol in public and from being intoxicated in a public place.

Spilling has been charged with six counts of breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order and three counts of theft.

He appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on 6 July, where he was remanded in custody until a hearing at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on 15 July.

“Criminal Behaviour Orders continue to feature as a useful tool against those who continue to commit crime against local businesses,” Sergeant Graham Thomas, of Chelmsford Community Policing Team, said.

“They have proved to be a successful means of reducing offences such as theft or abuse towards staff. Breaches can be met with terms of immediate imprisonment.

“We know how important it is there is a deterrent against committing further offences of this nature. My officers will continue to support our businesses and ensure regular offenders are charged, remanded and put before the courts.”