A WOMAN arrested in Tenbury Wells soon after an armed robbery of the Spar store in May last year gave police a "sex and drugs" story, Worcester Crown Court was told.

Michelle Sykes claimed that she had been "on the game" in Kidderminster and had been dumped by a client after a drugtaking session.

But Det Con Paul Bent agreed with defence counsel, Antonie Muller, that her story did not seem right and he didn't believe she had been acting as a prostitute.

Sykes claimed she had left her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter with a babysitter in Dudley and had gone to Kidderminster, where she had three or four customers and earned £80.

She had spent the money on drink and drugs before she was picked up by a man in a red Peugeot 205. She was abandoned in the country after a row over money and had made her way to Tenbury.

Det Con Bent said he did not believe her story and she later admitted that she had been dropped off in Tenbury by her boyfriend.

Sykes, aged 21, of Sudderley Gardens, Dudley, is alleged to have been a member of a gang of armed robbers who targeted business premises in the West Midlands.

The prosecution alleges their campaign of violence came to an end with a failed robbery attempt at Wolverley Post Office, near Kidderminster, when postmaster Richard Watkins stabbed to death armed raider Scott Griffiths.

Sykes, Wayne Davies, aged 26, of Himley Road, Dudley, Neal Frost, 33, of George Street, Wordsley, and Patrick Crane, 38, of no fixed address, deny conspiracy to rob.

Wayne and Frost also deny having a sawn-off shotgun when carrying out an offence.

The trial continues.