Expert: Thresher's robbery suspect "unreliable"

5:45pm Thursday 24th July 2008

AN EXPERT witness told a jury today that the intelligence level of a man accused of armed robbery may lead him to give "an unreliable and inconsistent" testimony.

Lee Wilson 21, of Curzon Avenue, Tylers Green, faces four counts of armed robbery and three counts of possession of an imitation firearm.

He is accused of robbing a Threshers in School Road, Penn three times and an Esso service station at Hazlemere Crossroads once last July.

Dr John Riordan, a consultant clinical psychologist said in highly pressurised situations Wilson could appear like "a rabbit in headlights".

He explained that IQ tests had revealed that Wilson was below one per cent of what the general population would score, referring to it as an "extremely low level".

Under cross examination earlier in the day Wilson told a jury he had told police a "pack of lies" at one stage of an interview on July 23, 2007.

He said at the time he was "feeling ill" and "wanted to go home".

When shown an imitation firearm presented as evidence earlier in the proceedings Wilson said he had never seen it before.

However, when put under pressure this afternoon, he claimed he had seen the gun.

He explained it had been shown to him at the home of David Gilchrist, 26, of Rushmoor Avenue, Hazlemere, but he had "forgot".

Gilchrist has pleaded guilty to similar charges and claimed Wilson also took part in the crimes.

The trial continues.

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