Shooting victim Grainger was 'central part' of robbery plot - court hears (From Warrington Guardian)

Shooting victim Grainger was 'central part' of robbery plot - court hears

9:20am Thursday 13th September 2012 in News

ANTHONY Grainger, who was shot dead by police in Culcheth, was a ‘central part’ of a robbery plot, the trial of three men alleged to be partners-in-crime has been told.

David Totton, aged 33, Joseph Travers, aged 27, and Robert Rimmer, aged 26, are alleged in a Manchester Crown Court trial to have been part of a team who were looking for places from which to rob large amounts of cash.

The court heard on Friday how they were working alongside Mr Grainger, who was aged 36 when he was killed.

It is alleged that the men carried out ‘careful reconnaissance’ of a G4S cash delivery van depot in Stoke-on-Trent.

Sainsbury’s in Culcheth is also alleged to have been a target, the court heard.

Opening the case, Gordon Cole QC, prosecuting, said: “Anthony Grainger features both in surveillance evidence and CCTV footage — playing his part, we say, in this agreement to commit offences of robbery.

“You hear about him because, essentially, he was a central part of this conspiracy.”

It is alleged that last December, two cars — an Audi and a BMW — were stolen from the scenes of burglaries in Bolton and Sale.

The prosecution says Grainger, Rimmer and Totton can be linked to the movements of the stolen cars, which ended up being fitted with false plates.

In Culcheth on March 3, they had balaclavas rolled up on their heads.

David Totton, of Rochdale Road, Manchester, Joseph Travers, of no fixed address, and Robert Rimmer, of Ainsbrook Avenue, New Moston, deny conspiracy to rob.

The case continues.