Raid 'mastermind' footage shown

Paul Allen denies charges of conspiracy to rob, kidnap and possess firearms

A jury has been shown footage of a cagefighter who is alleged to be the mastermind behind the �53m raid on a Securitas depot in Kent.

Video of Lee Murray taking part in a bout was screened at the Old Bailey trial of two men said to be involved in the February 2006 robbery.

Paul Allen, 30, and Michael Demetris, 32, both deny conspiracy to rob, to kidnap, and to possess a firearm.

The court heard Mr Allen and Mr Murray were arrested in Morocco in 2006.

Mr Allen was extradited to the UK while Mr Murray remains in a Moroccan jail.

I tell you members of the jury, I had nothing to do with this

Paul Allen

Mr Allen told the court he worked as a minder and driver for Mr Murray, who he had known since school, and agreed he was "a bit of a character".

When asked about their relationship, he said: "I done all sorts of things for Lee Murray. He'd say 'go here' and 'do this' and 'do that'. I worked for him as a minder and a driver."

He said he was angry that Mr Murray had got him unwittingly involved by asking him to buy a miniature camera and a car that were used in the plot.

Turning to look directly across the court, he said: "I tell you members of the jury, I had nothing to do with this."

Mr Allen said Mr Murray, who was known in the ring as "Lightning", needed a minder because he could be "aggressive" and "get himself into mischief".

'Moroccan hellhole'

He said Mr Murray was in the top 10 in the world at the mixed martial arts sport but his career suffered a setback when he was stabbed through the heart outside the Funky Buddha nightclub in central London in September 2005.

The court was shown a newspaper report which claimed the incident took place at a party attended by celebrities such as Callum Best and Jade Goody, footballer Jermaine Jenas and glamour model Lauren Pope.

Mr Allen said the stabbing was over a girl, not a "drugs deal gone wrong", as some stories suggested.

The court was told the father-of-three, of Huntersfield Close, Chatham, Kent, was arrested in Rabat, Morocco four months after the Securitas raid and spent 20 months in jail before being extradited.

He said he "wasn't too pleased" with his friend after he ended up in a "Moroccan hellhole".

The jury was also told Mr Allen was previously convicted for fighting outside a nightclub, possessing cannabis and having a knife.

Five people were jailed earlier this year for their part in the robbery.

The trial continues.