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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Hairdresser denies part in raid | Hairdresser denies part in raid |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| A man accused of being part of the £53m Securitas robbery conspiracy had ambitions to become a celebrity hairdresser, the Old Bailey has heard. | A man accused of being part of the £53m Securitas robbery conspiracy had ambitions to become a celebrity hairdresser, the Old Bailey has heard. |
| Michael Demetris, 32, from Bromley, London, denies conspiracy to kidnap and rob the depot in Kent in February 2006. | Michael Demetris, 32, from Bromley, London, denies conspiracy to kidnap and rob the depot in Kent in February 2006. |
| He is accused of recruiting Michelle Hogg to work on a "make-up job" as a disguise for his friend Lee Murray. | He is accused of recruiting Michelle Hogg to work on a "make-up job" as a disguise for his friend Lee Murray. |
| In defence, Joel Bennathan QC said his client had been duped by cagefighter Mr Murray, the mastermind of the robbery. | In defence, Joel Bennathan QC said his client had been duped by cagefighter Mr Murray, the mastermind of the robbery. |
| His co-defendant, Paul Allen, 30, of Chatham, Kent, denies conspiracy to rob, kidnap, and possess firearms. | His co-defendant, Paul Allen, 30, of Chatham, Kent, denies conspiracy to rob, kidnap, and possess firearms. |
| 'Waltz off' | 'Waltz off' |
| Mr Bennathan said: "Lee Murray was perfectly happy to get people involved and implicated and then waltz off to Morocco with £30m, not worrying about people he had got mixed up, people like Michael Demetris." | Mr Bennathan said: "Lee Murray was perfectly happy to get people involved and implicated and then waltz off to Morocco with £30m, not worrying about people he had got mixed up, people like Michael Demetris." |
| The manager of the Tonbridge depot, Colin Dixon, his wife and child were abducted by bogus police officers wearing prosthetic noses and chins and held captive during the robbery. | |
| In the witness box, Mr Demetris said Mr Murray asked him to do his hair and make-up for a part in a computer game video. | In the witness box, Mr Demetris said Mr Murray asked him to do his hair and make-up for a part in a computer game video. |
| Mr Demetris said he offered Ms Hogg the make-up and had no idea Mr Murray had anything to do with the robbery. | Mr Demetris said he offered Ms Hogg the make-up and had no idea Mr Murray had anything to do with the robbery. |
| He later asked Mr Murray for more details about the job to "get Michelle Hogg off my back". | He later asked Mr Murray for more details about the job to "get Michelle Hogg off my back". |
| He said: "Lee said he was acting out martial arts moves with a green backdrop and would have pads attached to his arms and legs. | He said: "Lee said he was acting out martial arts moves with a green backdrop and would have pads attached to his arms and legs. |
| "He said it was going to be a new British [computer] game called Hitman. He said there were going to be four boys [taking part] and it was going to be quite an explosive game. Quite big." | "He said it was going to be a new British [computer] game called Hitman. He said there were going to be four boys [taking part] and it was going to be quite an explosive game. Quite big." |
| They looked like a bunch of characters from a computer game Michael Demetris | They looked like a bunch of characters from a computer game Michael Demetris |
| On the Sunday night before the robbery he said he had helped Miss Hogg complete the work on Mr Murray, Kane Patterson and Lea Rusha, who he described as having hair dyed a "carrot colour". | On the Sunday night before the robbery he said he had helped Miss Hogg complete the work on Mr Murray, Kane Patterson and Lea Rusha, who he described as having hair dyed a "carrot colour". |
| Mr Bennathan said: "Did you think it made them look good?" | Mr Bennathan said: "Did you think it made them look good?" |
| He replied: "No, they looked like a bunch of characters from a computer game. That was my intention, to make them as bright as possible." | He replied: "No, they looked like a bunch of characters from a computer game. That was my intention, to make them as bright as possible." |
| Earlier Mr Bennathan said Mr Demetris, who had had met Mr Murray in 2004, was ambitious and wanted to move from high street hairdressing to "more glamorous stuff". | Earlier Mr Bennathan said Mr Demetris, who had had met Mr Murray in 2004, was ambitious and wanted to move from high street hairdressing to "more glamorous stuff". |
| He said he had worked for minor celebrities, including TV presenter Sarah Beeny, and was excited at the prospect of working for Mr Murray, a well-known cagefighter. | He said he had worked for minor celebrities, including TV presenter Sarah Beeny, and was excited at the prospect of working for Mr Murray, a well-known cagefighter. |
| Mr Bennathan said: "Mr Murray was some sort of celebrity and a celebrity customer like Murray would be really important as part of his ambitions as a hairdresser." | Mr Bennathan said: "Mr Murray was some sort of celebrity and a celebrity customer like Murray would be really important as part of his ambitions as a hairdresser." |
| Five people were jailed earlier this year for their part in the robbery. | Five people were jailed earlier this year for their part in the robbery. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |