THREE men have appeared in court in connection with a robbery which left a grandfather dead.

Jamie Caborn, 28, of Luncies Road, Basildon, who wore a suit and tie, and Colin Garrod, 50, both appeared in the dock of Basildon Crown Court yesterday.

Andrew McVicar, 33, of Dewsgreen, Basildon, appeared via videolink from HMP Thameside, in London. He wore prison issues clothing. He and Garrod, of Crowsborough Road, Southend, have been charged with armed robbery.

All three men are also accused of acquiring criminal property. They spoke only to confirm their names.

No indictment was read out before the court and no pleas were taken as prosecutors asked for four more weeks to collect further evidence - meaning the charges could be changed at a later date.

They relate to an incident at a home in The Drive, Hullbridge. Tim Smith, 53, was knocked to the ground and hit his head on a low wall as he fought off masked robbers after returning from The Anchor pub, in Ferry Road, to his friend’s house.

Grandfather-of-four Mr Smith, who lived in nearby Alfreda Avenue, was rushed to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridgeshire, for specialist treatment. He died the day after the robbery, which took place on Sunday, March 19.

Tributes poured in for Mr Smith, who owned building suppliers Doors, Floors and Stairparts, in London Road, Pitsea.

He previously lived in Stanford-le-Hope and worked as a roofer at the BP oil refinery in Corringham and at Tilbury power station.

He was later made redundant and used the cash to buy his Pitsea-based business, which he ran with his family until his death.

Mr Smith leaves with being his heartbroken wife Lesley, and had two daughters Shellie, 33, and Natalie, 26, and four grandchildren. A third daughter, Jackie, 35, died four years ago.

Shellie described the keen football player and amateur singer as the “perfect dad.”

Caborn, Garrod and McVicar will return to the Basildon Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on Tuesday, May 30.