A "GUNMAN" allegedly put the weapon in a schoolboy's back, demanded cash and then marched the teenager to his home, where he handed over his PlayStation, a jury heard.

Burnley Crown Court was told how the scared 15-year-old, who was a witness in a court case, gave Shamil Mussa the computer after being stopped in an Accrington street, but he told the jury he had not told his father, who had been at home, what had allegedly gone on, because he might go looking for the defendant.

Mussa, then of Clayton Street, Accrington, denies robbery, possessing an imitation firearm and witness intimidation, in February. His counsel has claimed the teenager gave Mussa the PlayStation to sell and did not want to tell his father, who had bought it for him as a present, and has made up his evidence.

Jeff Clark, representing Mussa, suggested the youth had seen the gun before and knew the defendant had it in his possession. But the 15-year-old says he has never seen it before.

The alleged victim told the court Mussa grabbed his arm. He did not know what was in his back and struggled with Mussa, to see what it was. But Mussa was trying to hide the weapon.

The complainant said Mussa wanted money but because he had none on him, he said he wanted his PlayStation. The schoolboy claimed he was led towards his house with the gun in his back.

Mr Clark suggested: "The reason you were going to your house was so that the defendant could sell your PlayStation for you because you were short of money. There was no gun and no threats being made at the time, was there?" The teenager replied: "Yes."

The teenager said he got the computer, but did not want to give it to Mussa and pleaded with him. His dad asked where he was going with it and he said to a friend's house. He handed the game over and Mussa got into a car and left.

Mr Clark: "Why didn't you go back into the house and tell your father what had happened?" The schoolboy said he did not want his dad to be upset and he wanted to get things straight in his head over what happened.

He went to a friend's home as he felt more at ease talking to him about it than his father. He returned home about an hour later and told his dad. He said: "I was a bit uneasy. He might have gone looking for him."

(Proceeding)