A 35-YEAR-OLD man has been charged in connection with four robberies in Cirencester and Stroud.

Philip Holmes, of Clarks Hay in South Cerney, has been charged with four counts of robbery and four counts of possession of a bladed article in a public place.

He was remanded in custody and will appear at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court today (September 28).

The charges relate to robberies at the following stores:

  • Chesterton Stores on Countess Lilias Road in Cirencester on September 20
  • Chalford Community Store, High Street, Chalford in Stroud on September 22
  • Beeches Stores on Upper Churnside in Cirencester on September 23.
  • The Mounties on Mount Street, Cirencester, yesterday (Wednesday, September 27)

Holmes was arrested by PCs Plant and Liddle-Peters yesterday and charged by detectives at 2am this morning, according to a post on @CotswoldsPolice Twitter page.

He was initially arrested on September 25 following the first three robberies, and released under investigation the following day.