Three men today (THURS) denied taking part in a da

Three men today (THURS) denied taking part in a daring robbery in which raiders broke into a bank from the flat above.

Victor Iniodu, 26, Daune Daniels, 25, and Richard Caines, also 25, allegedly struck at a branch of the Halifax building society.

It is claimed they wielded a knife, metal bar, and wooden mallet as they tied up three residents of the flat above in Whiston, Surrey.

Then the men allegedly burst through the ceiling in an attempt to rob safes, but fled when an alarm was tripped.

A police chase followed the bungled raid, and Daniels is said to have injured an officer’s dog during the incident on February 2 this year.

Caines and Daniels are also charged over a Post Office robbery on December 21 last year, during which pnds stlg 25,000 was taken.

Daniels is further accused of an attempted burglary at another Post Office on January 31 this year.

Iniodu, of no fixed address, denied one charge of conspiracy to rob, five false imprisonments, aggravated burglary, wounding with intent, and attempted robbery.

Caines, of Abercairn Road, Streatham, south London, pleaded not guilty to the same charges plus another conspiracy to rob, aggravated burglary, robbery, and false imprisonment.

Daniels, of no fixed address, denied the same charges as both men, plus damaging property in relation to the police dog, aggravated burglary, attempted burglary, wounding with intent, and false imprisonment.

Their trial is not expected to start before January next year.

ends