AN Atherton man accused of robbing a gambler minutes after he won £1,100 in his local betting shop has been cleared.
Carl Collier had denied involvement in the offence and was found not guilty by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court.
The court heard that Henry Crook, who has learning difficulties, won the money gambling on horses at Ladbrokes in Market Street, Atherton, on February 29.
He was “somewhat pleased” with his win and told the whole shop of his luck, said Fraser Lindsay, prosecuting.
He left the shop and it was alleged that he then met Mr Collier, whom he knew, and was lured into an alleyway behind the nearby Pendle Witch pub.
It was alleged that, once there, a struggle took place and Collier stole some of Mr Crook’s winnings before pushing him into a wall and making off. Crook said that he later found that £260 was missing.
Collier, aged 23, of Alma Street, Atherton, said he had borrowed £10 from Mr Crook after he told him about his winnings, but denied robbing him.
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