AN armed robber asked for a bottle of vodka before threatening to "blast" a terrified shop assistant, a court has been told.

Thomas Moffett, 43, of Roebuck Close, Blackburn, is charged with six counts of robbery - said to have taken place at three different off-licences in March and May this year.

Moffett has pleaded not guilty to all the charges, which relate to robberies at The Local, Redlam; Bargain Booze, Livesey Branch Road; and Booze Busters, Wensley Road.

John Maxwell, defending, has previously argued that, whilst the robberies all took place, his client was not responsible.

And on the second day of his trial at Preston Crown Court, a shopkeeper at Booze Busters re-lived the moment a gun was pointed at him during the first robbery at the store, which took place on May 15.

Sales asssitant Ryan Smith told the court how he had been working on his own at the shop when a man came in with his face covered, holding a gun.

Mr Smith said he was told to put vodka, cash and tobacco into a bag, but was then ordered to replace the one litre bottle of Smirnoff with a half-litre bottle, before the robber fled.

He said: "He just kept telling me to keep calm, making me go fast, but not shouting at me. It's like he did it every day.

"It was very calm, wanting me to do it as fast as I could, but not wanting me to get shaky."

He added that once the robber had finished, he said Go into the back, give me two minutes and if you come out I will blast you'.

Witness Annette Walton, who works at a local hairdressers, revealed how she had seen a man in the area acting suspiciously on the day of a raid on The Local, Redlam, on May 24.

She said she watched as the man put on black gloves, despite the weather being nice, and saw him ride around on a bicycle.

She told the court: "I wondered what he was up to. I thought he was looking for a house to rob."

Witness James Caughlin, a friend of Moffett, told the court how he had spoken to the accused the day of the raid after he rode up on a bicylce.

But in defence, Mr Maxwell argued Moffett was simply carrying out an earlier agreement to visit Mr Caughlin.

(Proceeding)