Boxer in court on robbery charge

Jun 11 2009 by Dan Beavan, North Wales Weekly News

Boxer in custody

WELSH boxer Aaron Thomas appeared at a special weekend court accused of a hold-up at knifepoint.

The 29-year-old (pictured) was remanded in custody by magistrates at Llandudno.

He is charged with robbing the Spar shop and petrol station (aka Geordie’s Garage) at Rhos-on-Sea – within 100 yards of his home – on May 30 and stealing £13,000, using force on employee Sandra Pitt.

It’s alleged the garage was robbed by a man wearing a motorcycle helmet and wielding a kitchen knife.

Gerallt Evans, prosecuting, asked for the remand to be in custody.

Defence solicitor Donald Roberts, seeking bail, said during the course of repeated police interviews Thomas had denied any involvement.

The case was sent for trial at Caernarfon crown court, where Thomas will appear on Friday.

Aaron Thomas was in the Wales squad for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Recession busters

A SHOPPING centre reckons it’s bucking the recession with a new mobile phone shop having recently opened and other retailers interested in taking empty units.

The Orange mobile phone store has opened at Llandudno’s Victoria Centre in the former Birthdays card and gift store in Mostyn Street.

Centre manager Sue Nash said: “We are very fortunate to have had a lot of interest recently from retailers enquiring about units.

“It’s a huge bonus to have secured Orange. We’re in talks with more retailers who have plans to open here, so it’s looking exciting for the future as well.”

Orange manager Anthony Rowlands commented: “We’ve been open a couple of weeks now and it’s been really busy here.

“We’ve got off to a great start and exceeded our expectation. Shoppers at the Victoria Centre have made us very welcome and we’re glad to be here.”

And Mrs Nash says the centre is benefiting from the increased number of tourists this year since the Easter holidays.

War posters display

HOME Front posters from the Second World War are on display at Llandudno Museum until July 5.

These classic posters have become genuine historical documents, providing a fascinating insight into a difficult period of British history.

Maurice Collins, a London-based collector of vintage posters and ephemera, has built his collection of wartime posters over a number of years.

Their visual, social and political content demonstrate the importance of the poster artist and the cartoonist in times of national emergency.

These posters and others like them played an integral part in maintaining the morale of the British population during the war.