Suspicious man bought getaway car

A MAN who sold a car allegedly used by a gang for a getaway vehicle following an armed robbery has told a court of the “suspicious” man who bought it.

Kevin Fake, of Norwich, sold his white Ford Sierra on November 10, 2005 eight days before a security van was held up at Lloyds TSB in Nacton Road, Ipswich.

Leroy Harvey, 38, of Tulse Hill, Brixton and Steven Blacklaw, 25, of London Road, Hemel Hempstead stand accused at Ipswich Crown Court of that robbery and a further one outside the same branch on February 10, 2006.

On each occasion the robbers, disguised with balaclavas, took £75,000. Both men have denied robbing security guard Colin Frewer on November 18 2005.

Hardy has also denied robbing security guard Rodney Lawlor on February 10 2006.

Mr Fake told the court he sold a Ford Sierra, found abandoned after the robbery, little more than a week before the alleged armed robbery.

Describing the man who bought the car after replying to a free ad, Mr Fake said: “He was a black man with very black skin and was in his 30s or 40s and about six foot tall”.

The court heard that Mr Fake picked the man up at City College in Norwich in another car before taking him to his home to look at the Ford Sierra. He said the man was “suspicious” and was not interested in looking around the car.

He told the court: “I asked him if he wanted to look at the engine, spare tyre or the boot but he didn't want that.” The car was sold for £125.

It is alleged that the car was found to contain a plastic drink bottle with Blacklaw's DNA on it.

At yesterday's hearing, the jury was told how security guard Mr Frewer was delivering cash to the Nacton Road bank when he turned to see a gunman running up behind him, shouting “get to the floor”.

The robbers held a tin of lighter fluid over his head, threatening to burn him, unless his colleague Mr Lawlor got them the cash from the van.

The trial, which is expected to last two weeks, continues.