An attendant at York City Art Gallery has claimed in court that two balaclava-wearing men tied him and three colleagues up at gunpoint.

Ronald James Fisher said that as soon as the pair saw him, they pointed a sawn-off double barrelled shotgun and a handgun at him.

He stood up in the witness box to demonstrate what happened for the jury at York Crown Court.

Giving evidence at the York City Art Gallery trial today, Mr Fisher said: "They told me to get down, they tied my hands behind my back and then they asked me who else was on duty."

He claimed the pair made him take them through a security door to find colleague Derek Blades, who tried to duck out of sight and then shoved the two attendants at gunpoint back to the main exhibition room.

In a short time, the robbers, who were both wearing balaclava masks, had four members of staff tied hand and foot with electric wire on the floor.

Mr Fisher claimed that both men loaded their guns and said: "Now you know we mean business."

But the taller man, who had the handgun, also asked the staff if they were OK, if they had any medical problems and apologised for what was happening. The shorter man, whom the prosecution allege was Craig William Townend, left the room and the staff could hear "banging and clattering" in a nearby gallery.

They thought they could hear things falling.

"The smaller one, the one with the shotgun, returned to the exhibition room carrying two holdalls over his shoulder," said Mr Fisher.

"The way he was carrying them they seemed quite heavy." One of the men said: "That's it, we are out of here," added Mr Fisher.

The pair untied Mr Fisher's legs and made him escort them halfway downstairs before retying him, leaving him and "disappearing".

Mr Fisher said he managed to free his hands. "I had to hop up the stairs, go into the exhibition room, down the office corridor," he said.

He then managed to untie his legs and free his colleagues.

He said he was very frightened during the whole episode.

Townend, 29, of Middle Avenue, Rawmarsh, Rotherham, South Yorks, denies robbery and carrying a shotgun with intent.

His stepfather, William Spence, 49, of the same address, denies handling 20 paintings stolen from the gallery.

The trial continues.

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