Woman 'had major role in armed raid' at Post Office

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A 33-YEAR-OLD woman played a crucial role in an armed robbery on an Oxfordshire post office, a jury at Oxford Crown Court heard yesterday.

Victoria Brookes, of Westfield Road, Witney, denies robbery and possessing an imitation firearm with intent at Stanton Harcourt Post Office on January 9 last year.

She had earlier admitted using criminal property, having spent some of the £2,256 and smoked some of the cigarettes taken in the raid.

Richard Sharpe, prosecuting, said Brookes had been poised to be the getaway driver before a last-minute change of plan and had encouraged 31-year-old accomplice Lee Rudman to burst into the shop holding a crude ‘machine gun’ fabricated from offcuts of metal. Rudman, 31, of Blenheim Drive, Witney, is currently in jail having admitted robbery and possessing an imitation firearm with intent, and is today expected to give evidence in the case.

Mr Sharpe told the court: “The Crown says she was Lee Rudman’s willing accomplice.”

The case continues.