A Czech immigrant has denied robbing a prostitute after she locked herself inside his bathroom.

Jaroslav Baca, a married father-of-four, told the jury at Bradford Crown Court that, at one stage, he believed Tameena Zephyr might have taken £400 from his jacket pocket while he was asleep on the sofa.

But he said he realised she was not involved when Miss Zephyr began crying.

Baca, 38, of Washington Street, Girlington, Bradford, pleaded not guilty to the robbery charge.

The prosecution has claimed events "turned sour" when Miss Zephyr tried to leave after being involved in sexual activity with Baca and two other men.

It is alleged that she was prevented from leaving the house and forced to hand back the money she had been paid. One of the men blocked the front door and, after finding the back door locked, she ran upstairs and bolted herself in the bathroom.

Baca told the court that he fell asleep on the sofa after drinking with the two Slovakian men. He took off his jacket, but when he awoke after the men returned to the house with Miss Zephyr his jacket was not where he had left it.

When he went upstairs he discovered the money was missing from his jacket pocket.

"I was shocked and started screaming," Baca added.

After hearing the woman crying, he asked one of the Slovakians who spoke English to tell her not to be afraid and ask her to come out.

The bathroom door was then forced and he ran downstairs to open a door so the woman could leave.

The trial continues.