A former Bradford City footballer claimed he was only the getaway driver in an armed robbery at a Post Office where he was promised £500.

Bradford-born Lewis Emanuel, 30, plotted with three other men who carried an imitation firearm to raid a Post Office in Skelmanthorpe, Huddersfield.

Among those in the office at the time was a two-year-old girl who was ordered to lie on the floor while waiting for the time lock on the safe so they could steal more cash than they could get over the counter. The postmistress Jill Brennan, 50, was confronted by two men in balaclavas who shouted: “Give us the money, give us the money.”

Mr Emanuel, of Lowfield Close, Low Moor, and Mr Craig Ward, 26, of Lindale Road, Woodside, both pleaded guilty to a charge of robbery and possession of a firearm with intent and appeared for sentence at Hull Crown Court yesterday.

Emanuel, a left back who played 139 league games for Bradford, claimed he was only the getaway driver of the second vehicle – a Ford transit van.

Defence barrister Andrew Walker said Emanuel’s basis of plea meant he was guilty of joint enterprise but it would be up to a judge to decide if that made a difference to sentence.

Recorder David Bradshaw announced he could not sentence Emanuel because of a conflict of interest which had only just been pointed out. He said he had been asked to represent Emanuel at an earlier hearing.

The sentencing hearing was adjourned until December 23.