Garage boss was shot and stabbed in raid, court told

A businessman from Staffordshire was beaten, stabbed and shot in the back by a gang of armed raiders trying to steal a £30,000 Porsche and cash from his safe, a jury has heard.

Amjad Khan "miraculously" escaped the clutches of the robbers as they tried to bundle him into the boot of his own Audi, but was shot as he "fled for his life",

Stafford Crown Court was told. Mr Khan had resisted demands for the keys to the car and the safe. Members of his staff were made to kneel at gunpoint face down on the floor, the court was told.

Mr Darron Whitehead, prosecuting, told the court yesterday that the attack happened at Mr Khan's car repair firm Ikon Bodyz on Stafford's Astonfields industrial estate on October 22, 2009. Mobile phones and £1,500 in cash was stolen.

The accused are: Daniel Martin, aged 21, of Sherbourne Street, Birmingham, Jake Broadhurst, aged 20, of Stratford Street, Hockley Heath, Alexander Ponsonby, aged 21, of Steelbrook Road, Solihull, Andrew McMullan, aged 24, and his brother Sam McMullan, both of Oldway Drive, Solihull. They all deny conspiracy to rob.

Broadhurst, Andrew McMullan, Ponsonby and Martin all also deny possessing a firearm with intent, causing Mr Khan grievous bodily harm with intent and attempted kidnap.

Mr Whitehead alleged all five plotted the raid, and although Sam McMullan was not at the scene, he was "back-up." He said Mr Khan was approached by two masked men who demanded the keys to the Porsche.

He was hit on the head with a baseball bat and was threatened with a gun, Mr Whitehead said.

Two of his staff, Luke Mudford and Stephen Sherliker, were confronted by two other masked men, one holding a gun. "They could see and hear Mr Khan being beaten," said Mr Whitehead.

The court heard several of the attackers tried to bundle Mr Khan into the boot of his Audi, and he was kicked and cut with a knife as he struggled. He managed to escape but was shot in the buttock, thigh, back and legs as he fled, Mr Whitehead said.

The trial continues.