AN armed robber who held up a village Post Office at gunpoint has been told he is facing a lengthy jail term.

Zakhery Bradbury admitted carrying out the early morning raid on the store in Oaksey, near Malmesbury.

The 20-year-old, of no fixed abode, admitted charges of robbery and possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon after a knife was also recovered and having a small amount of cannabis.

Bradbury went to the Post Office and village store at about 7.30am on Wednesday, May 18 armed with the weapon.

After threatening a member of staff with the imitation firearm he made off with cash and cigarettes from the store on The Street, in the centre of the village.

Alex Daymond, defending, asked for the case to be adjourned so that a psychiatric report can be carried out on his client.

Judge Tim Mousley QC, sitting at Swindon Crown Court, remanded him in custody to a date to be fixed.

He told him “You have pleaded guilty to very serious matters which will inevitably lead to a custodial sentence.

“I can’t sentence you today, I need to know more about about your background and from a psychiatrist.”

A second man who is accused of taking part in the raid pleaded not guilty and will face trial by jury later in the year.

Kieren Wheeler, of Magnolia Court, Pinehurst, Swindon, denied the robbery, firearms and knife offences.

The 19-year-old was remanded in custody until Monday, October 17, when he will stand trial on the allegations.

Three other people from the Calne area were also arrested of suspicion assisting an offender.

A 44-year-old woman and men, aged 38 and 22, have been released on bail.

The shop which contains the Post Office is owned by the Oaksey Village Shop Association, a registered friendly society, on behalf of the village.