Two men appeared at Norwich Crown Court for the theft of a till containing about £130 in cash and £70 worth of stamps which was taken from the Post Office store in Freethorpe, near Acle.

A judge said small village shops had to be protected after two men appeared in court for theft of a till containing £130 in cash and £70 worth of stamps from Freethorpe Post Office store, near Acle.

Dennis Frodsham, 33, aroused suspicion as he was seen waiting outside the shop for some time, Norwich Crown Court heard.

Martin Ivory, prosecuting, said Frodsham then entered the store about 4pm, grabbed the till from the shop and fled from the scene in a Renault Clio being driven by getaway driver Peter Moreland, 35.

He said that police stopped the two men nearby and cash was recovered.

The till, which was worth £190, was also recovered as it had been dumped in nearby Moulton.

Frodsham, of no fixed address and Moreland, from Horn Park Lane, London, both admitted theft, on October 25, last year.

Recorder Guy Ayers made Frodsham subject to an 18 month community order and 60 hours unpaid work, as he has already spent many months in custody, Moreland was given a six month jail sentence suspended for two years.

He told them: 'Shops out in the countryside have to be protected.'

Ian James, for Frodsham, said that after suffering a bereavement, his life had gone downhill but he now wanted help to get his life back on track.

'He wants help to get work and stay out of trouble.'

Moreland, who had no representation, said he was currently on a supervision order for another matter and said he was doing well on the order and hoped to continue his progress.