A MAN has been charged with four counts of armed robbery after targeting betting shops in Hampshire.

Daniel Sharpe, 26, of no fixed address, was charged with robbery after stealing cash from shops in Eastleigh and Romsey.

He was also charged with four counts of possession of an offensive weapon and one count of possession of a bladed article.

The first of Sharpe's robberies took place on January 20, at Megabet in High Street, Eastleigh, where staff reported being confronted with a man holding a hammer.

The second robbery was reported to police on January 23, when Ladbrokes in The Hundred, Romsey, was targeted by a man holding a wrench.

Betfred in Shakespeare Road, Eastleigh, was robbed on January 26 by a man brandishing a crowbar and Coral in Oakmount Road, Chandler’s Ford, was targeted on February 6 by a man wielding a knife.

No one was injured in any of the incidents.

Daniel Sharpe is due to appear at Southampton Crown Court on March 13.