A FORMER employee at a Bradford service station gave inside information to a gang who snatched almost £18,000 of the takings, a jury has heard.

Kevin Persaud was the "spotter" who told the robbers when Salim Rahman had set off to the bank with the money on the morning of Monday, August 11, last year, it is alleged.

Persaud, 22, of Thornton Road, Bradford, denies conspiracy to rob Mr Rahman, who runs Great Horton Service Station with his son, Fahim Rahman.

Prosecutor Mehran Nassiri told the jury at Bradford Crown Court that Salim Rahman was robbed of £17,900 as he drove down Horton Grange Road at about 10.20am.

Detective Constable Teresa Milburn said yesterday that film of the robbery, taken from a passing vehicle, was shown on the Telegraph & Argus website and the police were at that time pursuing an investigation into four possible suspects.

Fahim Rahman said he had known Persaud for about three years before the robbery.

They met at the Islamic Community Centre in Nelson Street, Bradford, and became close friends.

Mr Rahman said he lent Persaud £2,000 to start up an internet business selling herbal products.

Persaud began working at his garage, using some of the money from his wages to repay the money.

He helped with trips to the cash and carry, banking and in the garage workshop.

Persaud had left his employment at the garage before the robbery to train as an NHS practitioner.

After his father was attacked and robbed, Mr Rahman said he confronted Persaud in his office at the petrol station after being told that he was involved.

He showed him the film clip of the robbery from the T&A website and offered him a way out if he helped to bring the culprits to justice.

Mr Rahman said Persaud admitted what he had done to preserve his family honour.

He said Persaud told him that he was to get £3,000 out of the robbery by acting as "spotter" to tell the gang when his father set off from the garage to the bank.

Fahim Rahman told the jury: "I was shocked and felt majorly let down.

"I could not believe that somebody so close to me would do that. I was really hurt."

Imran Khan, barrister for Persaud, accused Fahim Rahman of instructing men to beat him with a hammer to get him to own up to involvement in the robbery.

Mr Rahman denied this, saying he was alone with Persaud when he confronted him.

The trial continues.