A MAN has appeared in court charged with kidnap and robbery after jewellery worth tens of thousand of pounds was stolen.

Jamie Kalaiarasu, 21, from Stevenage, attended St Albans Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday) charged with the two offences following an incident at Loveweds Jewellers in Harpenden High Street.

A spokesman for Herts police said that a man working at the store was held against his will and forced to hand over the shop keys at about 5.30pm on Wednesday, March 20. The offenders then stole a number of items of jewellery.

Kalaiarasu, of Archer Road, has been remanded in custody ahead of a plea and case management hearing at St Albans Crown Court on April 25.

Co-defendants Ashley Latimer-Bassill, 24, from Crane Mead in Ware, and Daniel Stanley, 24, from Travellers Lane in Hatfield, have also been charged with kidnap and robbery and are due to appear in court on Monday.