A ROBBER stole £1,600 from a Winchester bank on Tuesday morning and then threw it away.

Police have now charged Christopher Allnutt, of Mount Pleasant Road, Southampton, with robbery. The 42-year-old is due to appear before magistrates in Aldershot today (Wednesday).

Officers are still appealing for the money to be returned following the raid on Barclays Bank in Jewry Street.

But so far just £300 has been handed in.

Detectives said a man entered the bank around 10.20am and stole the money after threatening staff, telling them he was armed.

Det Insp Andy Symes, of Winchester police, said: “The man left the bank, and a short time later threw the money into the street for reasons we have yet to establish.

“We would ask that any members of the public who have found money in Jewry Street – or surrounding streets – to please hand the money into their nearest police station, as this money is evidence in our investigation.

“We would like to thank the members of the public who have already come forward and handed in money they have found to us.

“This was understandably upsetting for the people in the bank at the time, but this kind of incident is thankfully very rare, and in this case a man was arrested quickly and nobody was harmed.”

Witnesses to the robbery should contact Winchester police station on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.