A MAN charged with helping an organised crime group says he dumped equipment in a bush because "I was told to do it".

Daniel Harkins and a group of five others are alleged to have kidnapped Richard Baker from his premises in Seddul Bahr Industrial Estate in West End, days after Harkins' business, Samson's Gym, was hit by a fire in Eastleigh in January.

Luke Yeates, 33, who has been charged with helping an organised crime group and perverting the course of justice, claimed he did not know what the group was going to do.

In the prosecution’s closing argument, Charles Gabb read out the police interview with Yeates, of Woodlands Way, Bursledon.

Mr Gabb said: “Mr Yeates says he didn’t know what was going to happen.

“He was given equipment to ‘get rid of’.

"When asked by police if he thought it had been used for a crime, he responded with ‘I thought it was probably something about something’.”

During police questioning, Yeates said "I just got rid of the stuff and dumped it in a bush.

"I was told I had to do it so I just did it so there was no aggro.

"I didn’t think about it."

The court heard that the gang threatened Mr Baker, saying that "we know where you live".

They told him: "If you tell anyone, this place [the industrial estate location] will burn down, and so will your home."

Earlier in the trial, Harkins told the court that the group only went out for dinner, though admitted he wanted to get information about the arson from Mr Baker.

Harkins, 36, of Sherborne Road, Eastleigh; Jamie Kingstone, 40, of Paynes Road, Shirley; Leroy King, 34, of Dutton Lane, Eastleigh; Rodney Traves, 47, of Croydon Close, Southampton; Peter Chamberlain, 49, of Chaucer Road, Southampton and Alan Boddy, 47, of Goldingham Drive, Essex; are charged with conspiracy to kidnap, kidnap and assault.

The men, and Yeates, have all pleaded not guilty.

The trial continues.