Queen's Grenadier Guards 'carried out seven armed robberies in three days'

Two soldiers serving in the regiment raided businesses in London, court heards

Grenadier Guard Kristopher James-Merrill outside Kingston Crown Court, south west London, where he is on trial alongside Marlon Wright (PA)

Two soldiers from the famous military regiment that guards the Queen took part in a string of armed robberies across south London, a court has heard.

Grenadier Guards Kristopher James-Merrill, 20, and Dillon Sharpe, 23 – along with friend Marlon Wright, 25 - are alleged to have raided seven convenience stores with a BB gun across a three-day spree in July 2018.

Their regiment is one of the most senior in the British Army with soldiers recognised by the scarlet tunic and bearskin uniforms they wear while on ceremonial duty at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.

Sharpe, disguised in black clothing, a hood, gloves and a mask, threatened shopkeepers with a BB handgun and demanded they hand over cash.

Mr James-Merrill s accused of supplying the weapon, using his Mercedes A-Class as a getaway car, and conducting reconnaissance with Mr Wright.

Kingston Crown Court heard one shopkeeper feared he would be shot and killed, while another was left bloodied with wounds to his head.

But four of the attempted raids failed and Sharpe left empty-handed after workers fought back.

Mr James-Merrill, a serving soldier from Brixton, southwest London, arrived at court on Monday with a military medal pinned to his dark blue suit, which he wore with a white shirt, striped tie and glasses.

He and Mr Wright, from Mitcham, also in southwest London, deny four attempted robberies, three robberies and seven counts of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Sharpe, from Dulwich, southeast London, has previously pleaded guilty to all of the 14 charges and is not standing trial, the jury was told.

Prosecutor Fraser Coxhill said: "He therefore admits being the male who entered the shops wielding a handgun.

"There is no dispute these defendants are known to each other.

"Mr Sharpe and Mr James-Merrill were at the time serving guardsmen in the British Army and Mr James-Merrill is a serving Grenadier Guard.

"Marlon Wright was good friends with them both."

The court heard four shops were targeted between roughly 11pm on 24 July and the early hours of the following day, while another three attempts were made within an hour on 26 July.

In the first incident Sharpe – carrying a BB gun and dressed in black with his face covered by a mask – made off with around £1,000 from a till after a scuffle which left his victim with head and facial injuries.

A weapon matching the description of the one used, with blood matching the shopkeeper’s DNA, was later found at Mr James-Merrill’s home.

But Sharpe failed to leave with any money on three of his attempts – including one raid in which he pointed the weapon at a 15-year-old boy and told his mother to give him money from a till.

The police probe involved a search of the Lille Barracks in Aldershot, while investigators linked Mr James-Merrill's car to the crime, the court heard.

Other evidence of his and Wright's involvement is said to come from CCTV footage and the location data of their mobile phones.

Mr James-Merrill and Mr Wright admit to being present at some of the scenes but claim they did not knowingly participate in the robberies, which they say were carried out by Sharpe alone.

But Mr Coxhill said: "While they may not have entered the shop or physically carried the gun, the law states they may be guilty of the crime even if it was carried out by another person."

He added: "In this case the prosecution allege that Mr James-Merrill and Mr Wright knowingly played crucial roles in these offences."