A MAN on trial accused of taking part in a violent robbery at a Bradford cannabis farm told the jury he was entirely innocent of the crime.

Thomas Christoforou said he “thought Christmas had come early” when he chanced on a pile of cannabis plants lying on the front doorstep of a house in Leeds Road, Thackley.

The call centre worker said he grabbed the plants, but dropped them when the police began chasing.

A police van mounted the kerb to stop him and he leapt over the bonnet to avoid being run over.

He then stopped and was tackled to the ground.

Christoforou, 25, of Park Road, Eccleshill, Bradford, pleaded not guilty to three charges of robbery.

The jury at Bradford Crown Court has heard that Sean Barker was watching TV in his living room late at night when he heard loud banging from his front door and saw four men in balaclava masks, gloves and dark tracksuits.

One of the intruders pointed a knife or screwdriver at him and he was ordered to get on the floor and put a cushion over his head. His girlfriend was dragged out of bed and pushed downstairs to the living room. The raiders made off with cannabis plants from the cellar.

Christoforou said he ran from the police because he had recently bought £20 of skunk cannabis from his drug dealer. He was passing the house on his way to buy a takeaway and did not know anything about a robbery.

The trial continues.