A lorry carrying computer equipment worth £171,000 was flagged down by bogus policemen and hijacked soon after leaving an Evesham company, a jury heard.

Driver Alan Jones, aged 57, was forced from his cab at gunpoint and bundled into the boot of a car.

A gang then drove his Amtrack articulated lorry to Telford. Part of the load was hidden in Leicestershire and the rest in a garage at the Telford home of Terry Cutler, Worcester Crown court heard.

He was hijacked shortly after leaving Evesham.Com on the Vale Business Park around 8.30pm, on June 21, last year.

Prosecutor Nigel Godsmark QC said gang member Terence Devine had worked for Amtrack, the haulage company contracted to collect computers daily from Evesham. "He had inside knowledge," he said.

On trial are: Aaron Johnson, aged 19, Simon Johnson, 21, and Frederick Johnson, 43, all of Telford; Andrew Currie, 34, of Telford; Terry Cutler, 33, of Telford; Phillip Price, 47, of Wellington; Terence Devine, 38, of Walsall; Phillip Dolphin, 40, of Telford and Stephen Booth, 39, of Telford.

All nine defendants deny conspiracy to rob Mr Jones of his load and conspiracy to kidnap him. Cutler and Price also deny possession of a firearm during a robbery.

Cutler and Simon Johnson further plead not guilty to the false imprisonent of another man on December 12, 2001, and possession of a firearm with intent to commit false imprisonment.

The trial continues.