A YOUNG Wirral garage assistant faked a robbery to pay off his debts, Liverpool Crown Court heard on Thursday.

Robert Bywater owed £3,500 and was worried that County Court judgements were about to be issued against him.

So he panicked and went along with the idea of faking a robbery, suggested by a relative of a former colleague, said his solicitor Alan Boscoe.

Bywater, aged 22, of Rodney Street, Birkenhead, pleaded guilty to charges of theft and perverting the course of justice.

Jailing him for nine months, Judge Denis Clark said that the 'robbery' had been pre-planned and had even included removing the film from the premises' closed circuit video system to avoid detection.

Michael Stephenson, prosecuting, said that on August 2 Bywater took the film from the cctv at the Shell garage on Borough Road, Birkenhead, where he was working and told police a man had come in, threatened and punched him and taken the £4,100 from the safe and cigarettes.

Police, however, were suspicious and when his home was searched £2,145 was found, he said.

Bywater, who had no previous convictions, admitted that the fake robbery had been another man's idea and that man had punched him in the face to give their claim apparent authenticity. They had split the money between them.

Mr Boscoe said that Bywater had acted very naievely and as well as concern about his debts had been badly affected by the recent death of his father.

His share of the takings had been recovered within 24 hours of the incident, he added.