A man accused of robbing brothels in Surbiton, New Malden and across south London claims he was trying to stop Albanian gangsters forcing a young Asian girl into prostitution.

Kingston Crown Court heard last week that Daniel Fuller, 25, claimed he was a victim of a plot against him by shady brothel owners who control the sex trade across the south London suburbs.

Defending, James Eaton said they had tired of Fuller trying to track down and save the girl. "We suggest there is an orchestration by the people who control and run the brothels in your area because Fuller's been making a nuisance of himself, looking for somebody he believed had been forced into prostitution," he said.

He named people called Costas, George and Zefer involved in the plot, but a receptionist at a Wimbledon brothel, where Mr Fuller is accused of robbing prostitutes, denied knowing anyone with these names.

Another receptionist, this time for a brothel in Surbiton, was asked about a phone call from Fuller which she claims was to book an appointment.

Mr Eaton alleged his client was actually trying to find out if the Asian girl was there.

He said: "He was making enquiries about an Asian girl that he believed had been coerced into acting as a working girl."

This was denied by the Surbiton receptionist, who had earlier cried while describing the robbery.

She told the court about how, as soon as he came in, Mr Fuller had a telephone conversation and said he had to leave, before threatening her with a hammer.

Crying in the witness stand she said: "He put it towards my head. I was trembling and crying. I had a bad back so I told him I wasn't well. I just wanted him to get out."

Fuller denies robbery.

The trial continues.