Cricket star 'refused questions'

Chris Lewis has pleaded not guilty to trying to import cocaine

A former England cricketer refused to answer questions when he was stopped at Gatwick Airport after cocaine was found in his luggage, a court has been told.

Chris Lewis, 41, of Bruce Road, Brent, north London, was stopped on arrival from St Lucia on 8 December 2008.

Croydon Crown Court heard he answered initial questions, but when quizzed later under caution said "no comment".

He and co-defendant, basketball player Chad Kirnon, 27, of Islington, London, deny conspiring to import cocaine.

Mr Lewis was stopped in the green channel of the south terminal, but gave no explanation about how cocaine got in to tins of fruit and vegetable juice in his luggage, jurors were told.

'Did him favour'

Mr Kirnon, of Carnegie Street, Islington, answered all the customs officers' questions but denied any knowledge of the drugs found in tins in his bags.

However, he admitted checking in a bag for Mr Lewis at his hotel before the flight but said no security questions were asked at the hotel or the airport in St Lucia.

Jurors were told that in an interview with a customs officer he said: "I just did him a favour."

Mr Kirnon said he did not see his bag between checking it in at the hotel and when he boarded his flight, and added that he had met lots of new people, including Mr Lewis, during the holiday.

All-rounder Mr Lewis, who was born in Guyana, played 32 tests and 53 one-day internationals, later coming out of retirement to play for Surrey.

The trial continues.