A father and son accused of armed robbery outside a Co-op have told a court that their car broke down nearby that morning while taking cannabis to a relative.


A masked gunman pistol-whipped a cash delivery driver and snatched a cash box containing £45,000 in Tattenham Crescent, Tattenham Corner, at about 10.30am on January 30 last year.

Terrance Clark, 50, and his son Lewis Clark, 27, of Thessaly Road, Battersea, have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to rob and possession of an imitation firearm with criminal intent at Guildford Crown Court.

During cross-examination at court today, the son claimed that their car was immobilised near Nescot College in Ewell en route to meet his uncle John Clark in Box Hill.

Prosecutor Ian Hope said that search terms for "grabbing secure boxes" and "successful bank robbery" among others were found on a laptop from his partner's home.

Lewis replied in the affirmative when Mr Hope said: "You sat down with a friend because the friend was talking about joining a security firm and you wanted to warn him-off?"

He admitted that he had spent hundreds of pounds at Bicester Village on a shopping trip in February but said the money was from washing cars and selling boxing match tickets.

Asked about his finances, he said: "The cannabis dealing was getting me through it. I wasn't properly suffering."

Witness John Clark confirmed that Lewis gave him cannabis on the morning of January 30 and returned in the evening to collect the payment from a friend in Box Hill.

He said: "I know they haven't done a robbery."
The trial continues.