A man accused of robbing Surlingham Post Office told a jury he 'would not condone someone doing that' to his local shop.

Norwich Evening News: Surlingham Post Office. PIC: Peter Walsh.Surlingham Post Office. PIC: Peter Walsh. (Image: Archant)

Kevin Tunmore, of Low Common, Ashby St Mary, is on trial at Norwich Crown Court charged with robbery and possession of an imitation firearm.

The trial previously heard how two men burst into the rural Post Office on February 2, 2017 and ordered the 75-year-old postmistress to open the till.

A quantity of cash and postal orders were stolen in the raid.

Neil Chamberlain, 31, of Beechcroft Court, Cringleford, has already admitted his part in the robbery.

Tunmore, 36, who gave evidence on Thursday morning, has pleaded not guilty to both charges.

He told the jury that on the day of the robbery he had gone to see his son in Rockland St Mary.

But before doing so, he had gone to Ber Street in Norwich to buy heroin.

He said he received a lift to Rockland St Mary with Chamberlain and two others who dropped him off on the edge of Surlingham.

When asked why he was not dropped off directly in Rockland St Mary, he said his former partner 'would have gone mad' if he had brought people to the house.

Tunmore said his former partner was not in, and instead went round to her neighbour's house at around 3.30pm.

He claimed he stayed there until 6pm. The court heard how the robbery took place at around 4pm.

Prosecutor John Morgans asked why Tunmore's phone contained searches of Post Office opening times and a search for a map of Surlingham.

The defendant said he had not made the searches, claiming the phone was in someone else's possession to cover a drug debt.

'We used the phone as a group,' he said. 'It gets passed between people in a drug circle.'

Tunmore added he did not need a map of Surlingham as he had lived in the area 'all his life'.

Mr Morgan asked why Tunmore had not told police he had an alibi when interviewed by them.

The defendant said: 'Because of fear of reprisal. Dropping someone in it might get my family in trouble. I was worried about the next question.'

Denying any involvement in the robbery, he added: 'I would not condone someone doing that to my local shop, or anywhere for that matter.'