Five men accused of axe attack and robbery at Miena Jewellery in Edinburgh

Five men are to stand trial after alleged armed robberies at two jewellers.

Aaron Brannan, 28, Dean King, 27, Anthony Wheeldon, 29, Dylan Azzopardi, 28 and Connor Willis, 23, faced the accusations during a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow today.

Brannan, Wheeldon, Azzopardi and Willis are said to have joined another man in raiding Miena Jewellery in Great Junction Street in August 31 2019.

It is claimed they assaulted worker Wail-Al-Khamis and forced open a security door with a sledgehammer.

Miena Jewellery in Edinburgh's Great Junction Street

He said to have been struck with an axe before cabinets were smashed and jewellery stolen.

Wheeldon, King and Willis are then charged with being involved in a similar crime at Walker the Jeweller in Dundee September 23 2019.

It is alleged they brandished an axe, mallet and hammer before forcing open display cases to grab watches.

A man there is said to have been assaulted with a mallet to his injury and permanent disfigurement.

Brannan, Wheeldon, Azzopardi and Willis face earlier charges of breaking into a house in Edinburgh and stealing a car.

Wheeldon, King and Willis are separately accused of the reset of a motor in Dundee.

The men - apart from Willis - all appeared in the dock for a short hearing.

Lawyers for the five had previously pled not guilty on their behalf.

They agreed along with prosecutor Ashley Edwards QC that a trial could be set.

Lord Burns fixed a trial due to begin on August 9 in Edinburgh. The case could last up to 15 days.

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