Gang tie up mother and 6 year old

The pair were bound and gagged after a gang of nine men and women, wielding revolvers, hammers, a rope and cable ties, broke into their house in Ninfield Road, Bexhill, on June 25.

Allee Elliot, 36, of Pevensey Road, Hastings, has admitted being one of the group and is charged with conspiring to break into a property to steal - but claims she was there under duress. She entered no plea at Hastings Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

It is alleged the nine stole a laptop computer and a BMW car during the robbery. They are also accused of breaking into the house two days earlier to plant cannabis and a set of scales in what prosecutor Simon Allen called 'a set up'.

Kelly German, defending, said: "My client doesn't deny being there, but it was under duress."

Miss Elliot will appear at Lewes Crown Court on October 13. She was released on conditional bail. The other defendants are being dealt with separately.

Some have been remanded in custody, others released on bail.