A POLICE informer who admitted his part in a plot to carry out a violent armed robbery has been jailed for four and a half years.

Preston Crown Court heard that Denis Hagan, 30, had told police about the robbery and even shown them the premises involved.

But two days before the crime, he told his handlers that it would not take place for a week.

O'Hagan of Lairgill, High Bentham, admitted conspiracy to rob Michael Banks and his wife Lois at their home in Billington, near Whalley.

Prosecuting QC, Martin Steiger, said the robbery at the couple's home in Woodside took place on December 5, 1996.

After hearing a noise in the kitchen, they saw four masked men. Mr Banks was taken downstairs, gagged, blindfolded and tortured.

The gang were looking for a hidden safe they believed contained £100,000 and they pistol whipped Mr Lyons and struck him with a hammer while his wife was tied up.

The pistol was held against his knee and the weapon was fired. Mr Banks believed he had been shot but the gun only fired blanks. Mr Steiger said the gang were armed with a claw hammer, a machete, a pistol and a baseball bat.

When Mr Banks told them the safe did not exist they threatened to cut off one of his wife's fingers.

They eventually left with £20,000 worth of jewellery, cash and property.

Jonathan Foster QC, defending, said there was no suggestion that father of five O'Hagan participated in the robbery.

He pleaded guilty on the basis that he had received and passed on messages and played a minor role at a late stage.

Mr Foster described O'Hagan as "one of the most productive informants" and had received more than £3,000 for information in the past.

O'Hagan had been acquitted of another charge alleging conspiracy to rob the Spar shop at High Bentham where his mother-in-law was manager.

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