Three accused of £100,000 robbery

It happened at the HSBC branch in January as its ATM machine was being restocked and a car was reversed into the front window.

Prosecutor Simon Ward commented: “Whoever carried out this robbery planned it extremely carefully.”

It is alleged to have been carried out by Birmingham men James Lawlor, Ryan Edwards and Craig Smith who appeared at Warwick Crown Court charged with conspiracy to rob.

Lawlor, 28, of Marston Green, had been in custody, but his barrister Alastair Edie successfully applied for him to be granted bail – with conditions, including a surety of £100,000 from a Meriden businessman.

Lawlor will be subject to a condition of residence, with electronic tagging and a 9pm to 7am curfew, has had to surrender his passport and is required to report to Solihull police station three times a week.

Edwards, 24, of Stechford, who was already on bail, had it renewed with a condition of residence, a similar electronically-tagged curfew and reporting to the police three times a week.

But Smith, 28, of Stechford, was remanded in custody.

Recorder Marcus Tregilgas-Davey adjourned the case for the prosecution papers to be served on the defence prior to a plea and case management hearing in August.

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