A MAN alleged to have been part of a four-man robbery team denied he had anything to do with the planned crime.

James Achebe and his co-accused, Darren Dunn, were accused at Bolton Crown Court of being part of an armed gang seen in the car park of Somerfields, in Tyldesley, near to where security guards were filling cash machines.

But, before anything happened, the four-man team were alerted by something, possibly a passing police car, and they sped off. In a car chase, a large axe was embedded in a police car bonnet. The axe was wrenched out by the attacker before it was hurled at a second police car. The four men fled, but Dunn was arrested in Eccles and Achebe was arrested nearby. He claimed he was looking for his mountain bike which had been stolen the day before.

Achebe, aged 25, of Milford Street, Salford, denied being the getaway driver, or touching any weapons and was not the man a police officer claimed to have recognised during the chase.

The court was told that Dunn, aged 19, of Worsley Road, Worsley, admitted he had been in the vehicle, but said he had been part of a group intending to commit violence not robbery.

Achebe denied conspiracy to rob, aggravated vehicle taking, assault with intent, driving while disqualified and conspiracy to commit violent disorder.

Dunn denied conspiracy to rob and aggravated vehicle taking, but admitted to being carried in the car He admitted assault with intent and conspiracy to commit violent disorder.

Dunn declined to give evidence or to call any defence witnesses.

(Proceeding)