Published Article

HeadlineMan on trial for Kennington armed robbery plot

Short HeadlineMan on trial for attempt armed robbery

StandfirstThree men attempted to rob a briefcase from a cash van guard.

Christopher Garrett, a man in his late twenties from London, is on trial for his involvement in an attempted robbery on a cash and transit van last November.

The incident took place outside a Tesco Express on Kennington Road and Garrett acted as the getaway driver, after two men on mopeds tried to steal a brief case full of money from a Loomis delivery van driver.

One of the men was armed with an axe.

The police had already identified the three men during a surveillance operation only one week earlier, where they noticed the men scoping out the scene.

As a result, the police were in position the same time the following week in anticipation, and were able to track down the vehicle that Mr Garrett was driving away from the scene within an hour.

All men were arrested on the scene.

The defence were not disputing his involvement, however were arguing that when the car was stopped and Mr Garrett was arrested, an excessive amount of force was used to restrain him.

The jury listened as a policeman claimed that there was a “violent struggle” as Mr Garrett refused to comply with instructions.

He was then removed from the car and detained on the floor face down by four police officers. A taser was then used and an arrest was made shortly after.

The defence argued instead that Mr Garrett couldn’t get out of the car because his seat belt was on – and put it to the jury that there was no need to use a taser.

The case is ongoing.