Man who wrote 'The Art of Armed Robbery' on trial over armed robberies

An author who wrote a book called The Art of Armed Robbery has gone on trial - for planning a series of armed raids on security guards delivering money to cash machines.

Crime writer Terry Smith, 49, is alleged to have plotted seven robberies in Essex and London with his older brother Len Smith, 50, and friend Brian Wall, 61 netting them more than £154,000.

In one raid, a passerby was shot in the chest and almost killed when he tried to intervene, Chelmsford Crown Court was told. During another alleged attack, a security guard had a gun held to his head and two shots fired at his feet in Becton, East London, as he delivered cash to an ATM.



Prosecutor Patricia Lynch QC said: "These three defendants are professional armed robbers, they earn a living from it. Mr Terry Smith has written a book called The Art of Armed Robberies and has previous convictions for armed robberies."

Smith, of Canvey Island, Essex, Len Smith, of Dagenham, Essex, and Wall, also of Dagenham, deny charges of conspiring to rob and conspiring to possess firearms with intent to rob.

Wall also denies attempting to murder Mr Mapleson, robbery, and possession of a firearm with intent to rob. The trial continues.