Man in court on bank raid charge

Paul Pennington, 30, of Tewkesbury Drive, Ansdell, is accused of conspiring to rob the Santander Bank in November last year.

It is alleged men wielding axes and sledgehammers confronted security guards loading money cartridges at the bank and stole £85,000 on November 16 at 8.15pm.

Pennington is said to have conspired with Joshua Farrer, 27, of Marton Mere Caravan Park, Blackpool, and Steven McGillivray, Anthony Johnson, Daniel Henson and Lee McKeever, all of Manchester.

Pennington’s co-accused appeared before Blackpool magistrates on Saturday and were sent to crown court.

Alison Quanbrough, prosecuting, asked that Pennington join his co-accused at crown court. Defence lawyer, Abigail Henry, did not ask for bail for her client.

Pennington was remanded in custody to appear at Preston Crown Court on March 27 by District Judge Jim Clarke sitting at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.