A WINSFORD man is set to face trial charged with the armed robbery of a betting shop in the town.

Vincent Henry, of Station Road, is alleged to have entered the Betfred store in Jubilee Way with an imitation firearm – intending to cause people to believe ‘unlawful violence’ would be used against them or others.

Staff at the shop were left shaken after the robbery on August 4 of this year and detectives from Cheshire Police put out an appeal following the incident, which happened at around 12.20pm.

Henry, 41, appeared in Chester Magistrates’ Court on November 4 charged with robbing the betting shop of £4,010, possession of the BB carbon dioxide-powered revolver, and having this imitation firearm to commit an indictable offence.

The court heard Henry is also charged with possession of criminal property in relation to a quantity of cash at his address, as well as possession of offensive weapons in a private place – including a knuckle duster and zombie knife.

Magistrates sent the case to Chester Crown Court for trial.

A plea and trial preparation hearing will take place on December 2.