A Crime Monthly camera crew travelling in a police

A Crime Monthly camera crew travelling in a police armed
response van found themselves in the thick of a ruthless
post office robbery, the Old Bailey heard.

The van was flagged down by a shocked shopper who had
walked into a central London post office to find bandits
threatening staff.

The LWT team filmed the dramatic chase which followed,
ending when alleged robbers Rennie Thomas, 28, and Richard
Williams, 29, were abandoned by the waiting getaway driver.

Thomas and Williams were arrested at gunpoint.

Barrington Abel, 27, was arrested in Wellingborough,
Northants, a year later and allegedly admitted driving the
getaway car.

Mr Tony Docking, prosecuting, said Williams and Thomas had
gone into the post office in High Holborn carrying a parcel
at 3.

30pm on July 27 last year.

‘When they reached the front of the queue, a member of
staff opened a hatch a short way to let the parcel in.

‘Williams then forced the hatch open all the way and they
both dived in so they were behind the counter.

‘Williams produced a cosh and Thomas produced a knife.

They
said they had a gun.

‘
Meanwhile, a shopper walked into the premises to find staff
and customers cowering on the floor.

She was able to flee to
safety outside.

‘Nearby was a police armed response van containing three
constables together with a two-man film crew for Crime Monthly.

‘One PC went to the post office, another called for
assistance and a third armed himself from the weapons in the
van.

‘It was then that Williams and Thomas ran out of the post
office.

‘
The camera crew filmed the chase which followed, including
Williams running towards a Datsun car, which sped off just
before he could reach it.

With the help of a Met Police wheel-clamping unit, the two
men were arrested.

The car, owned by Thomas, was being driven by Abel, the
court heard.

He was not arrested until almost a year later, when he
signed on at the DHSS office in Wellingborough, Northants.

Abel initially made no comment but later admitted he had
been driving the Datsun and had sped away from Williams and
Thomas when he realised ‘what was going on,’ the jury heard.

Abel, of Tennyson Road, Wellingborough, and Thomas, a car
dealer of Wood Lane, Dagenham, Essex, deny robbery.

The jury was told Williams, of Cleves Road, East Ham,
east London, had been ‘dealt with’ and would not be in the
dock.

The trial continues.

ENDS