Diamond robber confesses

(CNS): A second man accused of a New Year's Day stick-up at a downtown jewellery store, in which the police commissioner apprehended the suspects, has admitted his part in the crime. Last week James McLean pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm as part of the joint enterprise although he never held the gun. The crown has also accepted that McLean was not aware that the weapon used in the robbery at Diamonds International was loaded. He will now be sentenced in October along with Jonathan Ramoon who pleaded guilty in June and has only recently left a wheel chair after he was mowed down by the RCIPS boss who was off duty and in the area at the time of the robbery.

Ramoon suffered a number of serious injuries following the botched getaway from the robbery after the men crashed the car used in the hold-up as they were being chased by David Baines. The men jumped from the vehicle and continued to try and make their escape on foot however, the commissioner drove at the men and in the process ran straight over Ramoon who had to be cut out from under the commissioner's vehicle. the robber broke both legs and his arm and suffered some internal injuries. He then made his first appearance in court after charges were laid against the men on a gurney and was confined to a wheel chair for some five months.

Since then following an internal investigation the director of public prosecutions ruled that Baines did not use excessive force in the arrest and no disciplinary action was taken against the head of the local police service.

While Ramoon and McLean have admitted their part in the morning robbery which took place around 8-30am on the first day of 2014, Christopher Myles has still not answered the charges against him. Alleged to have been the getaway driver, the crown says he is guilty of robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm by virtue of the joint enterprise. At the moment Myles is scheduled to face trial in September.

All three men remain on remand at HMP Northward.