Father-of-three denied bail for alleged role in robbery in which shopkeeper Shammi Atwal died

A married father-of-three whose car and sledgehammer were allegedly used in a robbery that led to the death of a shop owner was denied bail after appearing in court today.

Prosecutors claimed Farhan Sheikh, of Thornhill Gardens, Barking, was the owner of a BMW car and yellow sledgehammer which were allegedly used by a gang of men to rob a cash and carry store in River Road, Barking, last week.

The 38-year-old appeared at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court charged with conspiracy to commit robbery where the case was sent up to the Old Bailey for a pre-trial hearing without a plea being indicated.

The court heard how father-of-two Shammi Atwal, 45, of Chigwell, who co-owned the targeted store with his wife, died after he was stuck by a lorry while the men made their escape on October 14.

Mohammed Zed, defending Sheikh, told the court his client wasn’t present at the robbery and had told him he didn’t know anything about it.

Sheikh was remanded in custody and will appear at the Old Bailey on November 4.