A former recruiter accused of conspiring to con the Royal Bank of Scotland has denied he played any part in defrauding the bank.

Stephen Lawrence told Southwark Crown Court he had not entered false details into an invoice finance programme, arranged with the bank, while a director of IT recruiter Quo Vadis Technology Ltd.

When asked by defence counsel John Price whether he had any part in entering false details into the software in July 2006, Lawrence replied: “No, I don’t think I was even in the country.”

Lawrence is on trial for conspiracy to defraud along with fellow Chelmsford man Mark Starling.

Price attempted to show that the defendants wanted to use the invoice finance software honestly by telling the court the pair had looked into situating the computer containing the software at the office of independent accountant Janice Cope.

Lawrence replied: “It was only that she didn’t offer that service that we didn’t do that.”

The trial continues.