A MAN has appeared in court charged with a robbery at a social club that left the lone barmaid cowering in a corner.

Matthew Turner has been charged with robbery, possession of an offensive weapon.

A woman walked into Maiden Earley Social Club and asked to use the toilet before being joined by a man who threatened the barmaid before a four-figure sum was stolen from the safe.

The pair then ran from the Maiden Place club.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said the 29-year-old had appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court today April 28 and has been further remanded in custody to appear at Reading Crown Court on May 26.

​She said: “The charge is in relation to an incident on Sunday 19 April in which a man threatened staff with a bat at Maiden Place Community Centre in Maiden Place before stealing the contents of a safe.”