SHIRES' CCTV OPERATORS PRAISED

The CCTV system in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, which is monitored 24/7 by a team of six operators employed by The Shires Shopping Centre, has been praised by police for helping secure the convicions of four men who robbed a man at a cashpoint.

The four were caught with the help of the CCTV unit at The Shires, which monitors the 25 town centre cameras.

PC Jo Tidmarsh, of the priority crime team in Melksham, said: “The success of this case was boosted by the CCTV coverage of Trowbridge town centre, which tracked the four offenders before, during and after the robbery and allowed police to make prompt arrests and seize vital evidence.”

The Shires’ operations manager Vincent Cortilla said: “It is a really proactive unit here and we have had lots of successes, which are all down to the skill of the guys working here.”

Two men were found guilty of an attack on Daniel Knight, who was at the cashpoint outside the town’s central post office on June 26.

A jury found Joshua Patton, 19, of Devizes Road, Hilperton, and Andrew Baker, 18, of Petty Lane, Derry Hill, Calne, guilty of robbery, following a trial at Swindon Crown Court.

Patton was remanded in custody while Baker was released on conditional bail.

Oliver Husband, 18, of Greenway Lane, Chippenham, and Jason Dunsford, 19, of Devizes Road, Hilperton, both admitted the charge at their first crown court hearing.

All four will be sentenced on January 6 at Salisbury Crown Court.