THREE men allegedly conspired to rob a ‘small-time cannabis dealer’ after two of them owed him money, a court has heard.

In August last year Jordan Clarke, of no fixed abode, was found not guilty of murdering 22-year-old Troy Harkness.

Mr Harkness was found seriously injured in Abbey Road, near the junction with Popley Way, on January 19, 2022.

He was taken to Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Now, Mr Harkness’s brother, Reece Harkness, has gone on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of conspiracy to rob Mr Clarke on the same day.

Reece Harkness, 20, of Cleaver Road, Buckskin, denies the offence. Another man Zack Mason, 20, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to the offence in January.

READ MORE: Popley murder trial: Troy Harkness died from two stab wounds and 'catastrophic blood loss' after stealing drugs

Opening the case on Tuesday, February 7, prosecutor Tom Wilkins said: "The prosecution case is that the defendant formed an agreement together with his brother Troy Harkness and Zack Mason and planned to rob a drug dealer called Jordan Clarke. You might be asking why we are bothered that two or three men planned to rob another.

"Tragically it was a plan that had fatal consequences for Troy Harkness when Jordan Clarke fought back as he was being robbed. There is no dispute there was a conspiracy to rob Jordan Clarke.

“On January 20th Zack Mason pleaded guilty to his part in the count that the defendant here faces. The guilty plea by Zack Mason is evidence of that conspiracy. The issue for you is whether Reece Harkness is also a party to it."

Mr Wilkins told the jury that the three men had planned to rob Mr Clarke of his drugs as Troy and Mason owed him money.

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He continued: "There is no dispute that Jordan Clarke was a small-time cannabis dealer, there is no dispute that Zack Mason and Troy Harkness were customers of Clarke. Zack Mason and Troy Harkness owed Clarke money for drugs, mainly cannabis.

"There is no dispute that Jordan Clarke had armed himself with a kitchen knife when he met up with Mason and Troy Harkness.

"Jordan Clarke met up with the defendant and two other men and it was by arrangement and as a result of the conspiracy. The meeting was loud and aggressive and a number of neighbours heard the disturbance and a number of 999 calls were made."

The court heard that Troy "tragically left" the scene using a bike he stole from Mr Clarke and the drugs he had stolen. He rode off in the direction of Popley Way where he then "collapsed onto the road near the Apollo Hotel".

The trial continues.