A WOMAN has been convicted of robbing a Brightlingsea bank with a friend.

Kelly Greer claimed she had no idea pal Keith Palfreman, of Bentley Avenue, Jaywick, was going to carry out the robbery as they walked through Brightlingsea.

Greer, 29, of Sydney Street, Brightlingsea, told Chelmsford Crown Court she was holding the door open for him as he went into the bank.

Palfreman, 32, who admitted the robbery, told a cashier: “I have a gun. You don’t want me to use it.”

The cashier handed over about £500, but Palfreman said he wanted more and another cashier handed over about £140 in coins.

Simon Epstein, prosecuting, told the court Greer was a lookout and held the door so he could made a quick getaway.

As Palfreman fled from the bank, Greer followed and they went in separate directions, the jury heard.

Greer was arrested by police later, in Sydney Street.

She told the jury she had been drinking and taking her medication earlier in the day and was a bit tipsy at the time of the incident.

She said she thought Palfreman was going to withdraw money legally.

She denied stealing £790 from the bank on May 24 this year, saying she would not go into her own bank and try to rob it.

Greer told the court: “I realised what was going on. He was robbing the bank. I just stood there in shock, I did not know what to do.

“I shouted towards him ‘what the hell are you doing?’ and when he got out of the bank he started running down Sydney Street.

“My head was all messed up over what happened.”

The jury did not believe her, and she was convicted on the robbery charge yesterday.

Greer and Palfreman will remain in custody until they are sentenced next month.

A spokesman for Barclay Bank thanked the police.

He said: “We are grateful to the police for their swift action in arresting the perpetrators and for their successful prosecution.

“We are also grateful to our customers in Brightlingsea for the kind words of support after the robbery, and for their understanding when the branch had to be closed while the police completed their investigations.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We are pleased, following the conclusion of this trial, the two people charged will now be punished for their crimes when they are sentenced next month.

“Thankfully the type of offence committed by these people remains rare.”