POLICE are still hunting for three robbers involved in stealing Rolex watches from a jewellers in Wellington.

One man has already appeared in court but police are still searching for the three others involved in the raid at Joseph Welch Jewellers on the corner of South Street, in broad daylight on Saturday, August 11.

Joe Welch, who owns the shop, managed to fend off two masked men who attacked the jewellers with a pickaxe and got away with watches worth ‘thousands of pounds’.

Not long afterwards a car was stopped in Taunton and a man was arrested.

Last week Joseph Hale, 22, of Rappart Road, Wallasey, Wirral, appeared at Taunton Magistrates’ Court and denied a charge of burglary at the Wellington jewellers.

He was remanded on conditional bail after pleading not guilty to the theft of Rolex watches worth a total of £11,230 from Joseph Welch Jewellers in South Street. The watches were snatched after raiders smashed a hole in the display window.

Joe Welch, who locked himself inside with staff after hearing the window being broken, brushed other items out of the way of the thieves, and was slightly hurt during the attack.

Hale was arrested when police stopped the Mercedes he was driving in Bishops Lydeard shortly afterwards.

Chairman of the bench Dr Anne Slater remanded Hale on bail with the condition he resides at his mother’s home in Wallasey, remains under a 7pm to 7am curfew and stays out of Somerset except for court appearances or pre-arranged meetings with his legal representatives.

He was ordered to appear at Taunton Crown Court on Friday, September 14.