Make-up artist quizzed over nose

A make-up artist giving evidence in the trial of two men accused of involvement in a £53m robbery has been accused of lying and quizzed about her appearance.

Michelle Hogg was giving evidence at the Old Bailey trial of her former boss Michael Demetris, and Paul Allen.

They deny conspiracy to rob and kidnap after Kent's Securitas raid in 2006.

Under cross-examination by two defence counsels, Ms Hogg insisted she was not telling lies and had disguised her own appearance as part of her "new life".

Jurors heard that she was wearing a black wig, but had not used a prosthetic nose.

Ms Hogg has previously told the court that she was recruited by Mr Demetris to create prosthetic disguises for the robbers in the Tonbridge raid.

'Inconsistent account'

On Friday, counsel for Mr Demetris, Joel Benathan QC, said there were a number of apparent inconsistencies in her account of what happened.

But Ms Hogg repeatedly told him "I'm not lying" and added: "I'm not very good at explaining things. I do get things muddled up."

Later, under cross-examination by Ian Glen QC, representing Mr Allen, Ms Hogg confirmed she was wearing a wig.

"Have you put on a prosthetic nose?"

Ian Glen QC

Mr Glen told Ms Hogg she had attended a Securitas trial as a defendant when she sat in the dock for "several weeks" and was seen in her "normal state".

Then he asked her: "And you have decided since then as you are leading a new life to change your appearance?"

"It's not exactly a new life," Ms Hogg said.

"But you have decided to disguise your appearance? That's right isn't it?" he asked.

"Yes," she said.

"Have you put on a prosthetic nose?" he asked.

"Would you like to come and look at me closely? Of course not," Ms Hogg replied.

"Is there any other way you have disguised yourself?" he asked.

"I haven't got any prosthetic make-up on," Ms Hogg said.

Michelle Hogg was originally charged in connection with the raid, but charges were dropped midway through her trial. Five men were convicted at the same trial, earlier this year

The case continues.

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