I was out of work in about 1970 and looking for work and answered a small ad for a van driver for a day at £30.
So I got the job and picked up the van from the hire company and met and collected some men with bags.
They said "stop here" and wait for us. They then put on balaclava helmets and stocking masks and took some guns and clubs out of their bags and ran into the bank where I had stopped.
I thought, "shall I drive off?" but there was a man keeping watch. Some screaming and shouting occurred and they ran out carrying sacks and the men bundled back into the van still wearing they helmets and masks and touting their guns. It was a bank raid!
I asked if they had shot anyone and they denied that any shooting had happened and asked me to drive off fast.
I said, "now I don't want to break the speed limit, after all, you best chance is not to behave in a suspicious manner, now take off those masks and helmets and put the guns away and no-one will give a second thought." They agreed.
They directed me through several sets of traffic lights, where they were jumpy and a police road block where they all wore guilty smiles.
Then we turned down their road and they were all smiling and invited me in, I parked the van outside.
Inside they put their guns on the table and emptied their bags on money notes on to some big long tables and put a man holding a pistol at the door.
I asked for my £30, they said I could have £30,000 if you joined "us". I said "no, just the £30 and I'll go and return the van".
The leader, a young man of about 25 with a good looking face and brown neat hair, reached to the pile of money and picked up a wad of notes. I said "no, from your own money". He then took out his wallet and gave me three ten pound notes.
I took the money and approached the door which was up a step. The was a call "shoot him! he'll tell!". I said "then you will be murderers".
The leader let me go with a dire warning and sent a man with me to pay the hire company.
I took the van back to the hire shop and said while my minder was occupied, "The van was used in a bank raid, call the police. Keep the other man occupied"
The shop staff understood and told the other man who was going to pay for the hire that they needed to check it before it could be released. He waved £250 at them but he waited.
The police arrested us and I took them to the flat.
I told the judge that I was only the van driver and how I came to be involved and I was released.
The other men got light prison terms.
Chris.