Hosts' takings stolen in car ram-raid

Two licensees were robbed on their way to deposit their weekend takings after raiders rammed into their car.

The licensees, who were husband and wife and driving a black Ford Orion, were hit several times by another car, a green Ford Mondeo, in Harlow, Essex, at around 12.40pm on Monday.

The couple, who were driving through the residential road Longbanks, were forced to stop and four men wearing balaclavas jumped out of the Mondeo.

They demanded the £2,600 cash that was carried in a red bag.

One of the men carried a crowbar.

The Mondeo was found soon after 1pm in a parking area in Sibneys Green.

Police believe the robbers fled in a silver car that was parked there.

They said it was a targeted attack and are urging hosts to be on their guard when carrying money to be deposited.

Anyone with information on the incident can call Harlow CID on 01279 641212.

Man jailed for stabbing in Sheffield pub A drunk stabbed a man in the chest and stomach at a Sheffield pub after the licensee refused to serve him more alcohol, a court has heard.

Michael Gotteri, 32, from Pond Close, Stannington, was jailed for four years at Sheffield Crown Court after pleading guilty to wounding with intent to cause harm.

The court heard last week that he had drunk half a bottle of whisky before going to the pub, where he consumed several more drinks.

Gotteri began insulting staff and customers at the pub and was ejected by a customer who was sitting at the bar.

Gotteri later returned carrying a knife.

The customer who had ejected him rushed to the pub door to prevent him entering ­ but was stabbed during the ensuing scuffle.

Judith Seaborne, mitigating, said Gotteri often drank to forget his problems and on the day of the incident had began drinking later in the day to avoid consuming such huge amounts.

But Seaborne said that because Gotteri believed he was not acting too intoxicated when he was was refused service, he panicked because he thought the pub had run out of alcohol.

Armed gang terrorise pub customers

A gang armed with a crossbow and Samurai swords burst into a village pub, terrifying customers and forcing them to flee to the pub cellar.

A police firearms unit and a helicopter were called to the Bell in Balsham, Cambridgeshire, after three men entered the pub at around 6.15pm on Sunday 3 October.

Customers escaped out of the back entrance and to the cellar before the raiders left the pub in a car.

Two people have been arrested and bailed in connection with the event.

Police said there were a lot of customers in the pub at the time.

Anyone with information can call Det Con Yvette Clover on 01223 358966.

Magistrate bars drinker for six months A man has been barred from every pub in Blackburn town centre after causing more than £1,000 worth of damage during a drunken rampage at a pub.

Paul Donlin, 22, hurled chairs and ashtrays around the packed Postal Order pub after he was asked to leave, Blackburn Magistrates Court was told on Monday.

He caused £1,074 of damage overall.

Donlin also stole a wallet and its contents.

Basharat Ditta, mitigating, called Donlin's behaviour "thuggish".

"He [Donlin] says that after he was asked to leave, a comment was made and he reacted in completely the wrong way," Ditta said.

Donlin has been banned from every pub in the town centre for six months as a result of his actions.

The ban is part of the town's Bar-U scheme, the court heard.

The magistrates ordered the preparation of pre-sentence reports.