An Ipswich man was seen with an imitation gun by witnesses who followed him after he robbed one of their friends of a mobile phone, it has been alleged.

Tiffany Peck told a jury at Ipswich Crown Court she was a passenger in a car driven by her friend George Gostling which followed Sean Casey from the Tesco car park at Copdock to the area of Dickens Road and Dombey Road in Ipswich.

She said during the chase she was able to give police the registration number of Casey’s car and then described seeing Casey walking directly towards them after putting something in his back pocket which she thought was a gun.

Casey, 29, of Dombey Road, Ipswich, has denied having a knife in the car park of Tesco at Copdock and possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence to George Gostling and Tiffany Peck on January 17.

The jury has heard Casey has admitted robbing Ashley Fisk of his mobile phone on the same date.

Timothy Naik, prosecuting, said on the night in question a group of friends, including Ashley Fisk, George Gostling and Tiffany Peck, were in cars parked in the car park of Tesco at Copdock in the early hours of the morning.

Casey and some of his friends had been in another car and Casey had allegedly produced a knife and threatened to stab Mr Fisk before taking his mobile phone.

Casey had driven off and was pursued by some of Mr Fisk’s friends who allegedly saw him with something that resembled a handgun after he got out of his car.

After his arrest Casey denied pointing a knife or a gun at anyone.

The trial continues.