A 50-YEAR-old crime writer accused of involvement in a string of armed robberies in East London and Essex which netted hundreds of thousands of pounds told jurors the claims against him were complete and utter nonsense. Terry Smith, of Point Road, Ca

A 50-YEAR-old crime writer accused of involvement in a string of armed robberies in East London and Essex which netted "hundreds of thousands of pounds" told jurors the claims against him were "complete and utter nonsense."

Terry Smith, of Point Road, Canvey Island, who has appeared on TV around 30 times in his capacity as a crime writer told the court that at the time of his arrest he was in the process of writing another book 'Blaggers Inc."

He admitted having two previous convictions for robbery and having once escaped from custody.

But he denied there was any foundation in the current allegations against him at Essex Crown Court last week.

Smith and his brother Leonard, 51, of Dagmar Road, Dagenham, along with painter and decorator, Brian Wall, 61, of Elstow Road, Dagenham, all deny conspiracy to rob between 1 September, 2006 and April 30, 2008 and conspiracy to possess firearms to commit robbery.

Wall also denies the attempted murder by shooting of commuter Adam Mapleson who was "seriously" hurt after he "body checked" one man attacking a security guard loading a cash machine outside Rayleigh station on 25 May 2007.

All three are said to have been involved in robberies at Beckton, East London and Witham, Rayleigh, Pitsea, Basildon, Vange and Chadwell St. Mary, all Essex, between 2006 and 2008.

Describing his brother, Terry Smith, author of the Art of Armed Robbery, said: "As a sibling I love him but as a brother he's a nightmare. He leads a separate lifestyle to me."

During the period of the alleged conspiracy, he said: "He lives in Dagenham. We rarely saw each other.

"He kept his own circle of friends in London and I have my own circle of friends and family in Canvey Island."

He added that he had met Wall in prison and that he had visited "occasionally."

Asked about the allegations against him of participating in a series of armed robberies, Smith said: "Not true - its complete and utter nonsense."

The court was told of his television appearances as an expert on crime. He had once been called in to comment on Channel Four's programme, The Heist, on the �53 million Tonbridge, Kent, depot raid.

Wall, who faces the attempted murder charge, has declined to give evidence in his own defence at the trial.

The court has been told that in the Rayleigh incident a female security guard had been loading a cash machine outside the station before the attack.

Wall denies armed robbery on 2 February, 2000, of �125,000 at Beckton and attempted murder of Mr Mapleson and all three deny conspiracy to rob between between 1 September, 2006 and April 30, 2008 and conspiracy to possess firearms to commit robbery, both involving the Rayleigh Station incident.

The hearing continues.