DANIEL Cressey, accused of aiding and abetting two men to firebomb a Grimsby mosque, said he would have told the police had he known about plans to commit the crime.
On the third day of the trial at Grimsby Crown Court, the jurors were told of the details of police interviews with Cressey, 24, of New Holland.
As reported, he has pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting his cousin Stuart Harness and Gavin Humphries – who have admitted arson reckless as to whether life was endangered – by driving the pair to the Grimsby Islamic Cultural Centre earlier this year.
Today, the court heard how on June 14, the first interview took place between the police and Cressey, where he confirmed he attended the property in Dixon Avenue, but only to chat to his cousin and have a beer.
He told the police that he had smelled petrol, but Cressey, Harness and Humphries were looking at Harness's motorbike, and he assumed the fumes were from that vehicle.
He said he did not see any petrol bombs but did see a jerry can in the garage.
The three of them did not talk about the Woolwich murder or any plans to attack Grimsby's mosque.
During this first interview, Cressey said neither Harness or Humphries got into his car; that it was just him alone in the vehicle.
But during a second interview, he said Harness had sat in the front passenger seat, but only to talk.
Humphries may have got in the car, he said, adding: "I've got a bad memory, I can't remember."
Cressey said he then drove home to New Holland to let his dog out and see his friends. He recalled it being light at the time.
The last time he saw the pair was when they were on the footpath outside the house.
"If I'd have known what they were planning to do, I would have reported it to the police.
A third police interview, during which he was represented by a solicitor, he responded with "no comment" to questioning.
The case continues - see your Telegraph tomorrow for more coverage.
