Bilston recovery truck driver denies being part of cashpoint robbery gang and blames 'fabricated evidence'

Craig Howell, 45, is on trial with seven other defendants accused of stealing £673,000 from ATMs during a nationwide crime spree between January 1 and October 15 last year. 

Taking the stand at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday (July 21) Howell, of Hatfield Drive, Bilston, told jurors he was not guilty of conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary. 

Howell described how he bought and sold cars and also ran a roadside rescue business whilst enjoying biking and quad riding during his free time.

He said: "None of this is to do with me, I lend out my van to people. At the time of these crimes my dad was dying and there was nothing I would do to risk not being there for my dad.

"Because of all this I missed my f****** dad's death."

Asked if he had taken part in a string of cashpoint robberies in Cumbria, Howell said that he had been offered a free holiday and had driven food and supplies there in August last year, before staying with some of the co-defendants for a number of days.

He said: "I was offered a free holiday, and I was happy to drive up there. My car was packed with food and supplies. I checked the bags to ensure there was nothing sinister in there, like drugs. I did not want to be transporting drugs across the country on the promise of a free holiday, I'm no fool."

When asked why he had not noticed his co-defendants' movements during his holiday in the early hours and through the night, he said: "I have been using sleeping tablets for years now, and they are strong. You do not hear a thing.

"If I gave you one now, give it half an hour and you would be snoring on the floor."   

Wolverhampton Crown Court previously heard the raids, using sophisticated cutting equipment, were carried out in areas such as Leighton Buzzard, Market Drayton in Shropshire, Crewkerne in Somerset and Cumbria.

When shown a crudely-drawn map of Bilston found in his house during a police raid, Howell said: "I've lived in Bilston all my life, why would I need a map? And the map is wrong. I think this has been fabricated by the police.

"I was convicted previously through fabricated evidence by the police, did three years in jail before I was proved right. And the same is happening again."

Noel Reilly, aged 46 and of Appletrees Crescent, Bromsgrove; Simon Pagett, aged 43 and of Dartford Road, Bloxwich; and Oliver Matthews, aged 39 and of Baneberry Drive, Featherstone; have already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary.

Martyn Smith, aged 43 and of Raisbeck Close, Carlisle; Nathan Hathaway, aged 20 and of Chantry Avenue, Bloxwich; and Helen Pagett, aged 50 and of Dartford Road, Bloxwich, are all accused of the same offence.

Simon Pagett, Reilly, and Howell, of Hatfield Drive, Wolverhampton, are all jointly accused of conspiracy to commit burglary.

Howell, Smith, Hathaway, Helen Pagett and Daniel Hickinbottom, aged 38 and of Chantry Avenue in Bloxwich, are all accused of conspiracy with Reilly and Simon Pagett to handle stolen goods, namely vehicles.

The trial continues.