Haslingden 'armed robbers' deny knowledge of gun (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Haslingden 'armed robbers' deny knowledge of gun

8:16pm Monday 12th July 2010 in

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A GANG of 'professional armed robbers' must have known there was a gun in their car at the scene of a raid, a court was told.

Jonathon Walsh, Richard Walsh and William Moore admitted plotting a raid on a cash delivery van in Haslingden.

But they deny charges of poss-essing a prohibited firearm and possession of a firearm with intent to commit robbery after a 9mm Reck Miami and silencer were recovered from a Mini Cooper the gang used, Manchester Crown Court heard.

The men claim they did not know that Gavin Noakes, who has admitted the firearm charges, had taken the gun with him.

The court heard that Noakes had taken the gun with him because he was fearful of the other three men. It was found in the footwell of the Mini Cooper.

But Peter Cadwallader, prosecuting, said: “Gavin Noakes said he has the gun for protection, because he is so fearful of the Walshes, yet he puts the gun under Richard Walsh’s seat in the passenger side of the car.

"It is impossible that this team of professional armed robbers did not know the gun was there.”

The gun was found next to a sledge hammer, which Richard Walsh knew was there, in the front passenger’s footwell.

Noakes, 30, of National Drive, Salford, claimed he had been unable to put the gun under his seat because it was blocked.

The men were arrested after armed police swooped on the Co-op car park where the men were lying in wait for the G4S van delivering money to cash machines on 25 September.

Moore, 27, of Phoebe Street, Ordsall, Richard Walsh, 25, of Mill View Court, Oldham, and Jonathon Walsh, 21, of Dob Brook Close, Newton Heath, have admitted conspiracy to commit robbery and handling stolen goods.

(Proceeding)