The best friend of the alleged mastermind behind Britain's biggest cash robbery yesterday made an impassioned denial that he knew anything about the heist.

The best friend of the alleged mastermind behind Britain's biggest cash robbery yesterday made an impassioned denial that he knew anything about the heist.

Paul Allen accused Lee Murray, a leading cage fighter he had known for more than 20 years, of using him in the plot.

He was angry that Murray had got him unwittingly involved by asking him to buy a miniature camera and a car that were used in the robbery, he said.

Turning to look directly across the court, he said: "I tell you members of the jury, I had nothing to do with this."

He also described the dramatic moment they were arrested by 50 armed police, four months after the hold-up, outside a shopping centre in Rabat, Morocco.

Allen described his friend as a £30,000-a-bout "mixed martial arts" fighter who was "feared for his fists" in the south-east London area they came from.

Murray, known as "Lightning" in the ring, had fought back from being stabbed through the heart and left in critical condition in September 2005 to resume training just a few weeks later, Allen told the court.

Footage of Murray played in court showed him taking part in a number of cage fights and, after knocking out one of his opponents, leaping on to the fence to celebrate. On another, he tells an opponent: "I'm going to smack you up."

Allen said he "wasn't too pleased" with his friend after he ended up in a "Moroccan hell hole" for 20 months before being extradited to Britain.

He said it was not in his nature to have been involved in the "terrible" kidnap of Securitas depot manager Colin Dixon and his family.

The 30-year-old father-of-three, of Huntersfield Close, Chatham, Kent, denies conspiracy to kidnap, rob and possess firearms.

Michael Demetris, 32, of Bromley, Kent denies similar charges in relation to the £53m robbery in Tonbridge, Kent, in February 2006. He is alleged to have helped prepare the robbers' disguises.

Allen said he now acknowledged that Murray was involved in the conspiracy.

A miniature camera Allen bought was used in the surveillance of the Securitas depot and a £4000 Vauxhall Vectra was later disguised as a police car and used to kidnap the Dixon family.

"He was basically using me to buy the car and the camera," Allen said. "I am very angry with him for involving me. I am not too pleased at all. I am here and away from my family for 26 months.

"I wasn't too pleased with him when I ended up in a Moroccan hell hole."

Allen told the Old Bailey he worked as a driver and minder for Murray, and trained with him in the gym.

He said he had known Murray since school, for more than 20 years, and agreed that he was a "bit of a character".

Murray and Allen were both arrested in Morocco in June 2006, before Allen was extradited to Britain earlier this year.

Allen said even though he was Murray's best friend he knew nothing about him planning the robbery during January and February 2006.

The trial continues.