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Man denies part in robbery
9:58am Friday 4th May 2001
A MAN accused of being the getaway driver during an armed robbery has denied the charge.
Kenneth Lumsden pleaded not guilty at Aylesbury Crown Court to stealing £5,500 and blank cheques from the Halifax Bank in Chalfont St Peter on January 21 last year.
Lumsden, 45, of Cedar Drive, Hillingdon, also denies possession of a fake handgun during the robbery involving two unknown accomplices.
On Tuesday, Lumsden told Aylesbury Crown Court: "The minute the police mentioned robbery it frightened the life out of me because I knew it would mean a mandatory life sentence if I am convicted and there is no way I would have committed that robbery."
Ben Gumpert, prosecuting, said two unknown men burst into the bank and grabbed cash after one, brandishing an air pistol, threatened staff and customers.
A police patrol spotted the speeding getaway car and three men ran from the vehicle after it was dumped in Joiner's Lane, Chalfont St Peter.
Most of the cash and cheques were found scattered in the area, the court heard. Lumsden was arrested as he walked along Joiner's Lane.
The prosecution claim that DNA profiling and fibres from Lumsden's jacket match those of a hat and gloves found at the scene. Lumsden denies wearing the articles.
The trial continues.
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