WORCESTER estate agent Nigel Parker has told a jury his prosecution for the theft of antique fireplaces was "ludicrous" and based on lies.

The 42-year-old boss of Parkers in Foregate Street said his firm's turnover was in excess of £1m a year and that he earned more in a week than he could have got from any dishonesty.

The fireplaces and other period features disappeared from catalogue firm Kays' buildings in The Tything after Parkers secured a clearance contract to make way for renovation into luxury homes.

Giving evidence at Worcester Crown Court, Parker said he was anxious to secure lucrative contracts with Reality, Kay's owners, and would have done nothing to jeopardise his business plans.

One of them was a £60,000 contract to obtain a parking area for Reality and visitors to Worcester Royal Hospital.

Parker said: "I wouldn't spoil the reputation of my firm. My company was not going to lose a £60,000 contract. It's ludicrous, it's lies.

"I was trying to retain a relationship with Kays and didn't want to upset them."

Parker, of Chapel Lane, Cradley, near Malvern, and his former employee Ian Tannock, 26, of Market Place, Evesham, deny stealing 15 fire surrounds, stone and timber flooring and a staircase between November and December 2002.

The prosecution claim that Tannock asked Kevin Dudas, the boss of Tradesales in Malvern, to find a buyer for the fireplaces. An architectural antiques firm paid £1,700 for them.

It is also alleged that Mr Dudas made eight phone calls to Parker after Tannock had left the company - although Parker denies ever knowing or speaking to him - and attended a pub meeting with both defendants where it was agreed to keep quiet about the stolen period features.

Parker got involved in the Kays clearance because it was an opportunity to secure new business deals and equip a planned new office in Kidderminster.

But he alleged it became clear that a security company for Reality was "letting anyone into the building" and he became concerned. He was then informed the building had been ripped apart, prior to local developer Neil Grinnall starting work.

Parker told the jury: "I was devastated over the obvious impact on my company. It had terminated any chance that Reality would have Parkers on their books as a client."

The trial continues.