Former Wycombe Wanderers player Nathan Ashton admits string of raids on bookies across High Wycombe, London and Watford

Nathan Ashton, 29, who was also a coach at Marlow Football Club, has admitted his part in eight raids on bookmakers across High Wycombe, London and Watford.

Another man, 27-year-old Ohmar Pike, from High Wycombe, has denied the charges and is currently standing trial.

Prosecutors accused the pair of netting nearly £14,000 in cash from seven branches of Paddy Power and a Coral bookmakers between May and October last year.

Pike is on trial charged with one count of conspiracy to rob eight betting shops, and one count of conspiracy to possess a firearm or imitation firearm with intent at two of those betting shops.

As his trial opened at Kingston Crown Court, jurors were told Ashton, of Reading, had already pleaded guilty to the same two counts.

Winger Ashton made 20 appearances for England teams from under 16 to under 19 level and played for clubs across the country, including Wanderers, Charlton, Fulham and Crystal Palace.

Opening the case against Pike, of St Hughes Avenue, prosecutor Sam Brown said: “The people robbed were in fact the cashiers who were either securing the premises as they closed for the evening or on one occasion shortly before opening time.”

One worker when confronted by a robber “fell to his knees and had a panic attack and begged for his life” before a gun was placed on the back of his head and he was told "I'm going to blow your head off, if you don't open the safe.”

Mr Brown told the court that Pike was not always in each of the betting shops, but was sometimes there as a getaway driver, using cars he had rented under his own name.

Ashton was charged in November in connection with the robberies, including a raid at Corals, in Cressex, on October 30 last year.

Pike denies one count of conspiracy to rob and one count of conspiracy to possess a firearm or imitation firearm with intent.

The trial continues.