A man is standing trial accused of being the getaway driver in a West Cumbrian mugging.

Carlisle Crown Court heard 20-year-old victim Courtney Leigh Johnson was walking to her car in Whitehaven, when she was bundled to the ground and robbed of her mobile phone.

Miss Johnson bravely pursued the robber for a short distance before passers-by came to her aid and the criminal fled.

Jurors heard Mark Mercer, 47, admits carrying out the robbery, which occurred in darkness close to the town’s Tesco superstore on January 9.

However, it is alleged that Mercer, of Distington, was aided in the offence by Peter Banks, 64.

Banks is said to have parked his Volkswagen Golf nearby, in a lane known locally as the “wagon road”, and driven Mercer away.

However, Banks has denied a charge of robbery.

Jurors at Carlisle Crown Court on Tuesday were told Miss Johnson was robbed as she walked up hilly Sea View Road carrying her mobile phone and handbag.

Mercer approached and made a grab for her bag.

“She told him to get off in no uncertain terms,” prosecutor Gerard Rogerson told the court.

“She clung to her bag with all her strength. But the force was sufficient to rip the strap completely from the bag.”

Miss Johnson was pushed to the ground and her mobile phone was found a short distance away.

A man was seen to approach the Golf on the wagon road, gesturing to the driver before getting in. The Golf drove off and a witness said he was “positive” there were just two men in a vehicle owned and driven by Banks.

“It is the Crown’s case this was a robbery which involved Mark Mercer committing the robbery and Peter Banks, who drove him away, providing the transport,” alleged Mr Rogerson.

“This man, Mr Banks, knew what was going to happen; he knew he was taking Mr Mercer to commit a robbery and when the robbery was committed he obliged by driving him away from the scene.

“He is, therefore, just as much a part of the offence as Mr Mercer.”

But, giving evidence, Banks said he had merely transported his female neighbour and a man he later learned was Mercer from Workington to Whitehaven and back on a “shopping” trip.

Banks, of Church Road, Harrington, Workington, stressed he was not a “getaway driver”.

Asked whether he could foresee that Mercer would commit the robbery, he replied: “No. I didn’t know anything he was going to do like that.”

The trial continues.