A skipper allegedly recruited to help a gang escape with £200 million of diamonds told the Old Bailey today of his fear during the raid.

Kevin Meredith, from Brighton, said he was told to take a speedboat from Bow Creek on the north side of the Thames to the south bank to pick up some people.

He had no idea why or that there was a plan to steal the diamonds from the Millennium Dome, Meredith told the jury.

He said he had agreed to go as he owed money to acquaintance William Cockran.

When he was unable to pay, he said Cockran had asked him to drive, saying: "Remember your wife and kids."

On November 7 2000 he moored in Bow Creek before being told to go across the river to the opposite bank.

As he went "I heard 'Attack, attack, attack' over the radio.

"I felt rather sick not knowing what was happening. I did not know who was saying 'Attack'.

"I saw a pier and just went straight across. I had no idea what was going on. I was frightened.

"I did not know what was happening. Someone said 'Armed police.'

"I did not resist. The guns were pointing straight at me.

"I have never been in such a situation before. I was brought over to their rig, laid face down and handcuffed."

Meredith, 34, of Auckland Drive, Brighton, denies conspiring to rob and conspiring to steal.

In the dock with him are Aldo Ciarrocchi, 32, of Bermondsey, Raymond Betson, 40, of Chatham, Kent, William Cockran, 49, from Catford, south-east London, and Robert Adams, 57, of no fixed address.

All deny conspiracy to rob but the four have admitted the lesser charge of conspiring to steal.

The prosecution alleges the gang intended to snatch the stones by smashing their way in to the Dome on an earthmover and escaping across the Thames by speedboat.

The trial continues.