A WHITE Transit van found with £1.3 million and a gun involved in Britain’s biggest cash robbery belonged to former judo Olympian Christopher Bowles, a court has heard.

Giving evidence at the Old Bailey, cage fighter Lea Rusha, 35, admitted having got inside the van to inspect a delivery of cannabis on February 18, but the former roofer denies having anything to do with the robbery of the Securitas cash depot in Tonbridge or the kidnapping of depot manager Colin Dixon and his family.

He said he had met Bowles in a pub, the Bishop’s Oak in Tonbridge, to speak to a man who had “had a go” at Bowles’ daughter.

Afterwards, Rusha, Bucpapa and Bowles had got in the van to inspect the cannabis.

Graeme Wilson, defending, asked Rusha: “Had you spoken to Mr Bowles on any other occasion about drug dealing?”

Rusha replied: “Yes.”

Rusha also admitted taking a concealed camera to an address in Herne Bay where the prosecution say he carried out surveillance work in preparation for the robbery.

Rusha said he had been trying to locate a man called Mr Lynch for Stuart Royle and another man in connection with an outstanding debt.

He had taken somebody else with him, a woman, because he did not want to hold the bag containing the camera.

He said: “It was explained to me that it was a man bag but I didn’t feel comfortable carrying a bag. I thought it was a bit poofy.”

On the night of the robbery, Rusha said he was at his home in Lambersart Close, Southborough, near Tunbridge Wells, watching a DVD called Big Momma’s House and went to bed about 11pm or midnight.

The previous night, when the prosecution claims he was being disguised in preparation for the kidnapping, Rusha said he was actually drinking in a pub.

Lea Rusha, of Lambersart Close, Southborough; Stuart Royle, of Allen Street, Maidstone; Jetmir Bucpapa, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge; Roger Coutts, of The Green, Welling; John Fowler, of Chart Hill Road, Staplehurst; and Emir Hysenaj, of New Road, Crowborough, have all pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to have in their possession a firearm.

Hairdresser Michelle Hogg, 32, of Brinklow Crescent, Woolwich, southeast London, has been cleared of all three charges after the prosecution offered no evidence.

A seventh man, Keith Borer, from Hampstead Lane, Yalding, stands accused of dishonestly receiving £6,100 of stolen Securitas money, which he denies.

The trial continues.