A 17-year-old Bradford youth, accused of carrying out a string of gunpoint attempted robberies in the city, appeared in Court yesterday.

The teenager, who cannot be identified because of his age, has been charged in connection with four raids at post offices and shops in the space of four hours last Thursday.

The incidents took place at the post office in Wrose Road, Shipley, at 3pm; the post office in Lillycroft Road, Manningham, at 6.30pm; a food store in Bishop Street, Manningham, 15 minutes later; and finally, at 7pm, at the Subway sandwich shop in Keighley Road, Frizinghall.

Nothing was stolen in any of the incidents.

The youth, who is clean shaven with short hair, appeared from custody at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court yesterday and was remanded back into custody for a bail application to take place at Bradford Youth Court today.

The teenager, who was wearing a white patterned hooded top and blue jeans, was accompanied in the dock by a security officer.

The defendant spoke to confirm his name, address and age, and occasionally smirked, during the brief three-minute hearing.

He is charged with four counts of attempted robbery and five of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to rob on November 1 this year.

The youth’s father and brother were present in court and his mother sat outside the courtroom.

Prosecutor Mrs Anzal Hussain asked the court to remand the defendant in custody.

The teenager’s solicitor, Miss Vanessa Birchill, said it would be impractical to make a bail application until today.

The officer in the case, Detective Constable Jim Singleton, of Airedale and North Bradford CID, was also present in court.

Detectives investigating the four robberies arrested a 15-year-old boy on Saturday in connection with the inquiry.

He has been released on bail pending further inquiries.