Boxer 'lost pounds 5,000' before garage raid.

Byline: ERYL CRUMP

BOXER Aaron Thomas lost pounds 5,300 in a casino just hours before a robbery in a petrol station near his home, a jury heard.

The 29-year-old, from Rhos on Sea, spent about 90 minutes in Stockport's Gala Casino in the early hours of May 30 before heading home.

Thomas, of The Orchards, denies robbing the Spar shop and petrol station of pounds 12,000 in cash after threatening two of the staff with a large carving knife.

Yesterday he was in the witness box at Caernarfon Crown Court for a second day.

Quizzed by prosecutor Simon Medland he told the jury he had lost about pounds 80 playing roulette, poker and slot machines in the members only gambling club.

But Mr Medland revealed casino records showing he had lost pounds 5,300 that night.

"What do you say to that?" he asked. Thomas explained he was also gambling with cash passed to him by another man.

"He was playing on another table," he said. Known to him only as Chas, Thomas said the man is a friend of his father, former Manchester United and Wales footballer Mickey Thomas. He insisted he had not lost thousands of pounds at the casino and was not short of money that weekend.

"In May this year you were short of money to fund your expensive lifestyle," said Mr Medland.

"No," said Thomas, "my dad gives me money, he's one of the best dads in the world."

Thomas said he had won a boxing bout in Deeside the previous weekend and had been given pounds 6,000 by his manager and sponsor.

Turning to the robbery Mr Medland said there were a series of coincidences which suggested he had carried out the raid of the petrol station.

"The robber and you are the same height and build, the robber has a tattoo on his neck and so do you, you have a similar track suit to the robber and your friend had a motorcycle helmet similar to the robber's. It was you who carried out the robbery wasn't it?" he said.

Thomas said: "No definitely not, it wasn't me." Asked by his barrister, Mark Weyth QC, if he was desperate for money Thomas said: "No."

Giving character evidence on Thomas' behalf former Wrexham and Wales football star Joey Jones said: "I've known him all his life. He's spent time with my family and he's an exceptional football player. I've always found him to be kind, truthful and hard working in training."

The trial continues.