Man charged with post office conspiracy

A 40-YEAR-OLD man has been charged with two counts of conspiracy following incidents at Hacheston post office.

Graham Westley, of Church Road, Ely, formerly a joint manager at the village store and post office, has been charged with conspiring with a person or persons unknown to pervert the course of justice in relation to incidents on Thursday, October 16, 2003, and Friday, May 23, 2003.

He has been bailed to appear at Lowestoft magistrates' court on Wednesday, June 2.

Mr Westley took over the running of the post office in September 2002.

On December 18, 2003 two masked men burst into Hacheston post office and village store near Wickham Market. They threatened a staff member and left with an undisclosed amount of cash. The premises was the target of four incidents last year.

After an alleged incident in May police issued an e-fit of a man they wanted to talk to. At the time it was reported that two people had entered the Hacheston post office and village store near Wickham Market and threatened the joint manager with a knife.

He was reported to have been taken to the toilet at the back of the premises, where a plastic bag was put over his head and his mouth taped up. An undisclosed sum of cash was taken during the incident which happened at around 8.50am.

Suffolk police carried out checks in the area and spoke to 35 people as part of their inquiry. Police tried to trace a second person who wore dark clothing.

Suffolk police relaunched Operation Penny on Monday, October 27, a campaign aimed at preventing attacks on post offices.

Officers called on every post office in the county and advising staff on what proactive measures they could take to prevent a robbery, as well as on what to do, should they become a victim. In addition advice, posters and information packs were distributed.