A man was charged yesterday with the armed theft of £187,000 from a bank cash dispenser in Belfast city centre. The money was stolen a year ago from the First Trust automatic telling machine in Royal Avenue after two Securicor employees were held up at gunpoint and left tied up. Mr Stephen Elliott (32), from Highpark Drive, Belfast, was charged with robbing Securicor and having a firearm or imitation to commit robbery or resist arrest.
A detective sergeant told the magistrates' court that when the two charges were put to Mr Elliott he replied: "Definitely not." The detective sergeant said he was relying on palm and fingerprint evidence to connect the defendant with the charges. Mr Elliott was remanded in custody until November 21st.