A businesswoman told an Old Bailey jury how she was duped out of £55,000 by a criminal who is now accused of a torture spree.

Sabina Surrey said she lent the cash to Carlon Robinson but she never saw it again.

Ms Surrey told the court she realised she had been fleeced when he took her BMW.

Robinson, 27, and Nolan Atkins, 25, are accused of carrying out a series of shootings and torture sessions in a bid to extort money and drugs.

The pair allegedly tied up their victims before inflicting humiliating punishments during a four-month reign of terror in London, Brighton and Eastbourne.

One victim was shot in the chest as he tried to escape by jumping from a first-floor window, it is claimed.

Ignatius Powell, from Bedford, had boiling water poured on his genitals during an ordeal in Brighton.

Miss Surrey, 39, told the court today she had a relationship with Robinson last year.

On August 31, he turned up at Miss Surrey's luxury flat in Worthing with Atkins.

While she was in the kitchen, Robinson drove off in her company car, it is alleged.

She said: "The keys were not there and I had not given him permission to take them."

Three days later, Miss Surrey contacted Robinson and warned him she would report the car stolen. The recruitment manager said: "He told me he would return it that night but he didn't."

Two weeks later Robinson called up and told her to pay up if she wanted to see the convertible sports car again, the jury heard.

She said: "He offered my car back if I was prepared to pay £1,000 to someone he owed. He said the car was in a lock-up in Croydon.

"I would never have considered meeting up with any of his goons. I told him I would not do it and I would only collect it in a public place."

Robinson is alleged to have used the sports car to carry out some of his crimes, including the shooting of Albert Robinson in Kilburn, north-west London.

Miss Surrey said in all she lost £55,000 at the hands of Robinson.

Robinson, of Merton Court, Brighton Marina, denies two charges of attempted murder, five firearms offences and three charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and theft.

He is jointly charged with Atkins, of no fixed address, who denies attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and two firearms offences.

Both men deny three robberies, five charges of false imprisonment, two aggravated burglaries and one charge of taking a conveyance without authority.

The trial continues.