A builder told a jury he had nothing to do with a deal to sell crack cocaine to undercover police officers.

Adam Brooks said he had no involvement with the £500 deal, which took place in Brighton in November last year.

Brooks, 21, of Zion Gardens, Brighton, and Amy Scott, 20, a trainee nurse, of Princes Crescent, Brighton, have both denied supplying crack cocaine.

Lewes Crown Court heard yesterday the pair were arrested after police bought the drugs with £500 in marked notes in an undercover operation to snare drug dealers.

Two undercover officers, known as Jay and Geordie, paid for the class-A drug in a pre-arranged deal in the car park at Preston Park railway station.

After the deal, a car driven by Scott was stopped by police in Dyke Road, Brighton.

Brooks had £370 in marked notes in his hands and a further £100 was found in the car. Scott, sitting in the passenger seat, had £30 on her.

The jury heard another passenger in the car, Rossano Shields, 26, from London, admitted supplying drugs to the police at a court hearing in January and was jailed for five years.

Brooks said on the day of his arrest he had asked Shields to lend him £150 in order to buy a stereo system from another friend.

Shields said he needed to meet some people at the station to borrow the cash from them and Brooks asked Scott to drive them to the meeting as a favour.

He later handed £200 to Brooks, who in turn gave £30 to Scott because he owed her the money.

He denied he knew Shields was selling drugs to the undercover officers.

He also denied being concerned with the drug deal or knowing the money came from the proceeds of a drugs transaction.

Earlier, the jury heard Scott, who has no previous convictions, had told police when she was arrested she had no knowledge of the drug deal and had just given Brooks a lift as a favour.

The trial continues.