A MAN robbed staff at two convenience stores threatening them with a “James Bond” imitation black replica handgun, a court has heard.

Robert Grogan, 50, of no fixed abode, is accused of carrying out the robberies at the Co-op Store in Cranleigh Road, Southbourne, and the Mace store in Sauflands, Highcliffe, on January 12 and 13 this year.

He also faces two further charges of using an imitation firearm on both dates. A total of £162 was stolen in the Co-op robbery and £366.12 in the Mace incident.

Carolyn Branford-Wood, prosecuting, told Bournemouth Crown Court that pregnant Kirsty Fudge and David Finch were working in the Co-op store at 10pm when they were approached by a man carrying what appeared to be a handgun.

He demanded money and held the gun to Mr Finch’s back.

Giving evidence Mr Finch said the man was heard to say “where’s the money, give me the money”.

“As I looked up I saw a black carrier bag with what appears to be a gun pointing at me.”

Describing the gun, Mr Finch added: “The only gun I could compare it to was like one you see on the James Bond films.”

Miss Branford-Wood said the following day a man, wearing what looked like a balaclava, entered the Mace store at around 5pm and threatened Soraya Lankshear.

Miss Lankshear told the court: “I just saw a balaclava-clad male charging towards. I turned back around and it was when I looked back I saw the gun and that’s when I panicked and ran out of the shop.”

She said the weapon was like a black hand-pistol, “something that James Bond would hold”.

“As soon as I saw the gun and clicked that he was robbing us I just screamed my colleague’s name. I was just screaming my head off and ran out the back entrance.”

The jury were played CCTV footage of both incidents.

Grogan denies all four charges. The trial continues.

"DNA found on replica firearm"

The court heard that a black replica handgun was found at an address in Westby Road, Boscombe, which contained Robert Grogan’s DNA.

Prosecutor Carolyn Branford-Wood told the jury a firearm was discovered in a drawstring bag inside the address, occupied by Gary Harrison and Susan Grogan.

Forensic scientist Daniel Beaumont said he was asked to examine a firearm that had been seized in relation to three suspected armed robberies on December 18, 2012, January 12 and January 13 this year.

The court heard police had instructed him that two men – Robert Grogan and Gary Harrison – had been arrested in relation to the incidents.

Mr Beaumont said he found DNA from at least three people on the gun – the majority of which was Grogan’s complete profile.

He said when he compared the profile of Gary Harrison there was “no clear indication he had contributed DNA to that sample”.

He said it was difficult to establish when Grogan handled the firearm and said it was possible DNA could also have transferred to the gun from a hat, wigs and gloves found inside the bag.