AN "EXTRAORDINARY" highway robbery was reported by the Worcester Journal this week exactly 200 years ago.

The edition of 1802 stated that the crime had been was committed within a mile of Ledbury.

"Mr Henry Holden of this city had been staying at the Red Lion Inn, Newent, where he met, by chance, a genteel looking stranger with whom he afterwards supped in the Travellers' Room. In the morning they also breakfasted together, and the stranger said he was going in the same direction of Ledbury and suggested they should ride there together.

"Having proceeded a considerable way on the road, during which they conversed familiarly on a variety of topics, the stranger suddenly pulled out a pistol, rode up to Mr Holden and demanded his pocket book and purse, otherwise he would blow his brains out.

"The stranger further warned Mr Holden he had no time to lose, so the pocket book and purse were then delivered and, upon Mr Holden requesting the stranger to return something for travelling expenses, the robber gave him a guinea, observing that he wished to behave honourably.

"He then leaped his horse over a five-barred gate and galloped off in the direction of Newent.

"Mr Holden has offered a reward of Twenty Guineas for the apprehension of the daring marauder. However, we are extremely happy to add that Mr Holden's pocket book has been recovered and is now back in his possession. It was found by a labourer near a spot where the robbery was committed and still contained a number of bank notes of considerable value.

"It may reasonably be inferred that it was inadvertently dropped by the robber in his hurry to escape and not missed in sufficient time to induce his return to search for it."