A MAN has appeared in court in connection with a robbery that took place at Martock Post Office where thousands of pounds in cash was stolen.

Dion Kevin Levy, 39, of Queens Crescent, Stoke-sub-Hamdon, was arrested by police and brought before Somerset Magistrates in custody.

Staff working at the premises in East Street were allegedly threatened with a “firearm” during the incident on January 4 and the business remained closed for the following day.

The defendant was charged that he robbed Charlotte Gordon of £4,616.25 at Martock.

A further allegation that he failed to attend an initial assessment to see if he had a propensity to misuse a Class A drug, after a previous sample revealed that cocaine may be present in his body, was withdrawn after no evidence was offered.

Levy did not enter a plea to the allegation and the case was so serious that the magistrates ordered him to be sent to Taunton Crown Court to stand trial.

They adjourned the case until February 12 when Levy was ordered to appear before a pre trial hearing at Taunton.

Until then he was remanded in custody after an application by the defence for him to be released on conditional bail was refused.