A businessman was crushed to death when a gang of armed robbers pushed him under the wheels of a lorry as they tried to flee his cash-and-carry, the Old Bailey has heard.

Shammi Atwal, 45, confronted the six men after they assaulted his wife, Damanjeet Kaur, in Barking, east London, a jury was told.

The raiders got away with just £1,000 after allegedly attacking the warehouse with sledgehammers and metal bars on October 14 last year.

Devidas Sumskas, 25, from Canning Town, east London, Farhan Ahmed Sheikh, 39, from Barking, east London, Edgaras Balezantis, 25, from Beckton, east London, Vidmantas Gorskoves, 26, of Plaistow, east London, Aurimas Diliunas, 27, of no fixed address, anjd Reiniks Kivers, 30, of no fixed address, deny manslaughter and conspiracy to rob.

David Howker QC, for the prosecution, told the jury: "Armed robbery is a serious and violent crime and those who take part in such an enterprise, as you appreciate, are obviously prepared to threaten and use violence to achieve their aim, which is to steal cash and get away without being caught.

"In this case that readiness to use whatever force was necessary resulted in a high price being paid because, as they made their escape, some of the workers in the cash-and-carry gave chase.

"In particular, Damanjeet Kaur's husband - one of the owners of the business, Mr Shammi Atwal - gave chase and confronted one of the robbers on the street outside the premises.

"Mr Atwal paid with his life because that robber, in order to escape and get away, pushed Mr Atwal away and into the path of a lorry. He went under the wheels of that lorry and was crushed to death.

"Each of these men, we say, was party to the plot to rob Mr Atwal's business and each of them, we say, bears criminal responsibility for this death."

The court heard that the gang travelled to the Glenn and Co cash-and-carry in a black BMW 5-series car, with some dressed in dark clothing and wearing gloves.

They attacked the premises and those who worked there "intent on taking whatever cash was to hand", Mr Howker said.

Mr Atwal and his friend Avtar Mann run the business, which sells beer, wines and spirits to pubs and wine bars.

The two men knew each other from India and operated the cash-and-carry on River Road from about 2005.

Ms Kaur worked there part-time, spending a few hours there each day while her children were at school, the court heard.

The business was taking around £5,000 to £10,000 a day and more at weekends, mainly in cash.

On the day of the robbery, the takings for the weekend were due to be banked, the court heard.

"It may not be a coincidence that the robbers chose a Monday to hit the business," Mr Howker said.

All the defendants are Lithuanian except Sheikh, who is alleged to be a close associate of Sumskas, the court heard.

The trial continues.