A MAN has appeared in court accused of stealing Rolex watches during a raid on a Wellington jewellers.

Joseph Hale, 22, of Rappart Road, Wallasey, Wirral, denied a charge of burglary when he appeared at Taunton Magistrates' Court this afternoon (Monday).

He was remanded on conditional bail after pleading not guilty to the theft of Rolex watches worth a total of £11,230 from Joseph Welch Jewellers, in South Street, on Saturday.

The watches were snatched after raiders smashed a hole in a display window.

The shop owner, who locked himself inside with staff and a customer after hearing the window being broken, brushed other items out of the way of the thieves.

Hale was arrested when police stopped the Mercedes he was driving in Bishops Lydeard shortly afterwards.

Chairman of the bench Dr Anne Slater remanded Hale on bail, with the condition he resides at his mother's home in Wallasey, remains under a 7pm to 7am curfew and stays out of Somerset except for court appearances or pre-arranged meetings with his legal representatives.

He was ordered to appear at Taunton Crown Court on Friday, September 14.