An Oxfordshire man is among five former executives of DIY giant Wickes accused of falsely inflating profits.

Trefor Lewellyn, 54, of Hill Farm House, Ipsden, near Wallingford, and his colleagues are accused of deceixving auditors Arthur Andersen.

In June 1996, Wickes announced that "serious accounting irregularities" had been discovered. However, after raising £53m in a rights issue in January 1997, the group ensured the continued support of its bankers.

Anthony Hacking, prosecuting, told Southwark Crown Court in west London that the rights issue "enabled Wickes to survive, and the banks to confirm their support."

But the fall-out from the public announcement that profits would have to be restated was swift, he said. Company shares were immediately suspended on the London Stock Exchange.

Mr Hacking, for the Serious Fraud Office, alleges the fraud was "driven from the top", aimed at disguising the poor performance of the company.

He claims there was a financial motive for the deception because improved operating profits improved the share price and resulted in enhanced bonus payments.

Company stock buyers who had kept paperwork showing the true position were ordered to bring them back to Wickes.

Earlier, the court heard a memo was sent to retailing subsidiary Wickes Building Services buyers ordering them to "hide" original documents before an audit.

It read: "Any files found will result in death by torture... put this date in your diary and destroy this memo."

Lewellyn, the former group finance director, left Wickes in August 1995 to join another company. He and his co-accused deny fraudulent trading and making false statements to auditors.

The trial continues.