Robbery accused 'had £1,400 cash at home'

But Michael Scanlon, aged 34, of Rocket Pool Drive, Bilston, refused to tell police where he had got the money from, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

He and his co-accused, Gavin Reilly, also 34, of Butteridge Court, Prestbury, Gloucestershire, both deny conspiracy to rob stores across Dudley, Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Wombourne between September 27 last year and January 4 this year.

Mr Gerry Quirke, prosecuting, said the pair were part of a larger gang. Another man, Alan Brookes, had already pleaded guilty(G) to being involved in one of the robberies.

Mr Quirke told the court that police questioned Scanlon on January 7 and 8 this year, after a search had been made of his home.

During the interview he was asked about the money that had been found in his home, but he refused to give an explanation.

"He was asked where the money had come from, and he said he didn't want to say," said Mr Quirke.

"He was asked if it was a loan, and he said it was, but he would not say who had lent it to him."

Mr Quirke said Scanlon was shown video footage of a man matching his description at the Co-op store in Tividale, which had been the scene of one of the robberies, although nothing actually happened on the day the footage was taken.

The film also showed a distinctive black-and-white Audi car which had been used in a number of the robberies, said Mr Quirke.

"He said it could be him in the picture, but he knew nothing about the white Audi A3," he said.

Mr Quirke said Scanlon admitted knowing Alan Brookes from his school days, but told police he had not seen him since they were children.

The court was also told that a balaclava was found in a burnt-out Vauxhall Astra, which was abandoned in Ambleside Close following a number of the robberies. The garment was found to contain DNA from at least two people, said Mr Quirke, although the main DNA samples matched those of Reilly.

The trial continues.