Armed robberies suspect freed (From Daily Echo)

Hampshire police release man arrested over gunpoint robberies in Brockenhurst and Lymington

2:04pm Sunday 23rd December 2012 in New Forest By Jon Reeve, Education Reporter

A MAN arrested over two Hampshire gunpoint robberies has been released without charge.

Detectives had quizzed the 44-year-old Lymington man since Thursday afternoon about an armed raid in Brockenhurst on December 4, and another in Lymington ten days later.

Police were yesterday given more time to hold the suspect, but he has now been released and told no further action will be taken against him.

He was the third person to be arrested over the two attacks.

A 48-year-old man from Lymington and a 44-year-old New Milton man were held last Sunday, before being released on police bail, pending further enquiries, until February.

Detectives are continuing the manhunt, and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

As reported, the first robbery happened at around 6.30am shortly after the victim had parked his Porsche at Brockenhurst railway station.

The gunman, who had lain in wait against a bush on the other side of the busy main road, approached him in the car park and ordered him back into the car.

They then drove around the New Forest before the robber forced the man to withdraw and hand over a “significant” amount of cash.

The victim was then dumped in a forest car park, with his vehicle left nearby.

In the second attack, a husband and wife were held hostage in their own home by the gunman, who then drove the 64-year-old woman around Lymington before returning her home.

In an exclusive interview, she told the Daily Echo she berated her captor as the “most hopeless criminal” she’d ever met.

Police are also linking the two incidents with an armed raid on a Post Office raid in Lymington Road, Highcliffe, on Tuesday.

Anyone with information should call the Operation Prenton team on 101.