A security guard from Harringay has appeared at the Old Bailey charged with being an 'inside man' for a £40,000 robbery at a bingo club.

Muhammed Mukungu turned a blind eye as two masked raiders entered the Gala Bingo hall where he worked before the end of his shift. The two men were armed with a gun and a crowbar and stayed in the bingo club over night until the treasurer, Carol Bryce, turned up for work.

The employed had arrived at the club at 7am on 31st May 2010 and was grabbed by the men, who forced her to open the machines up and show them the time locked safe. They removed her mobile phone and held her until the time lock opened.

Bryce was subsequently tied with cables and was discovered by a security guard who arrived at the scene an hour later. Both the robbers had their faces covered and wore gloves to avoid leaving any clues to their identity. They escaped with around £40,000 in cash.

The two robbers who committed the crime have not been identified, however, Mukungu, 33, and the getaway driver, Damien Latchman, 27 are now on trial. Both of the men deny conspiracy to commit robbery.

On Tuesday 14th February, the prosecutor Tom Wilkins, said: “Mukungu was working there as a security guard and the insider who provided the actual robbers with the vital knowhow about the hall security procedures and allowed the robbers in to hide overnight so they could commit the robbery at the most opportune moment the next morning.”

Mr Wilkins said: “The Crown says that the evidence that came to light, particularly phone evidence, shows that Mr Mukungu used his privileged position and his knowledge of the building to let the robbers in the rear of the premises and into a room at the rear, probably on the first floor.”

The court heard how Mukungu “affected surprise” when he arrived at the Enfield Bingo club.