A MAN has been remanded in custody after admitting theft from Rumwell Farm Shop and being accused of robbing a service station of nearly £2,000 cash.

Kevin Charles Sandy was arrested by police following the incident at the Broadway Service Station where he allegedly confronted a female member of staff and told her to hand over money.

He was then said to have grabbed the terrified woman and became involved in a struggle with her before grabbing nearly £2,000 in cash.

Sandy, 40, of Court Barton, Ilminster, was charged that on July 3 at Merriott he robbed Broadway Service Station of a quantity of cash, namely £1,740. He did not enter a plea.

However he admitted a further allegation of stealing alcohol worth £151.90, jointly with another, at the Rumwell Farm Shop near Wellington on March 18.

The magistrates said the robbery offence was so serious that it must be sent straight to Taunton Crown Court to be dealt with.

They adjourned that matter until Monday August 7 when Sandy must appear before a pre trial hearing at Taunton.

The Bench refused an application for bail by the defence and ordered the defendant to be remanded in custody until that date.

Prosecutor Emma Lenanton said that Sandy had gone to the Rumwell Farm Shop, near Wellington, on March 18 in the company of a female.

“They were seen on CCTV selecting bottles of alcohol and then concealed them in a bag and left the store without paying,” she said.

“The total value of the goods was £151.96 and both defendants managed to leave the area without being detained so a request for compensation has been made by the store.”

For the theft offence the magistrates ordered Sandy to pay £75 compensation, after hearing the female had already been dealt with by the courts, and told him it was payable on his release from prison.