Taunton Little Wine Shop and Jane Armour Trading damaged

The Little Wine Shop and Jane Armour Trading, both based on Riverside Place/St James Street, were both damaged this week.

The wine shop had its windows broken overnight (Wednesday, August 9); the glass door was broken and one of the windows was damaged.

The damage caused to The Little Wine Shop front door (Image: Newsquest)

One of the windows was damaged too (Image: Newsquest)

Jane Armour Trading was broken into and its front door was damaged between Sunday night (August 6) and Monday (August 7).

Owner Jane Armour said the front door of her shop was “battered and damaged”, nothing was taken, but she was left with a “big bill”.

Philippe Messy, one of the business partners at The Little Wine Shop, said: “We found out this morning.

“There is £500/600 worth of damages and it’s a lot of money for everyone now.

“We could have used the money for something else – for the staff, for a charity, or to run the place.

“There should be more police but with the current economic climate this country is in, they cannot spend money on policing.”

Jane Armour said: “I had to secure and repair our door. We are talking about several hundred pounds; it was last year when the glass was smashed. This is what I am anticipating, we are waiting for the bills.

“The door is secured now but needs to be repaired. Nothing was taken but I got a big bill.

Jane Armour Trading's damaged front door (Image: Newsquest)

“I don’t think you can blame it on Taunton. You get people who want to rob all around the world. One town is not necessarily worse than another.

“It’s just so annoying, but I am lucky I have some lovely customers with good humour and that’s comforting.

“Police were amazing. They heard the alarm and arranged for the door to get secured. They waited for me so they could give me the keys. They were excellent.”

On Monday (August 7), the glass door of Brazz in Castle Bow was damaged.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: "A 32-year-old man was charged with two counts of theft, one of criminal damage and one of a public order offence.

"He was due to appear before Taunton Magistrates Court on Tuesday, August 8 in relation to the incident in the Castle Green area."