A DISABLED pensioner was pinned down on his settee and robbed by a neighbour who had befriended him, a jury at Bradford Crown Court heard.

Ronnie Greenwood, 75, was left with bruising to his arms after he was attacked by Andrejs Visockis, it is alleged.

Mr Greenwood, who had previously suffered two strokes and a heart attack, was left crying and shaking, prosecutor Ken Green said yesterday.

Visockis, 20, of Welham Walk, Undercliffe, Bradford, denies robbing Mr Greenwood of £20 on April 7 last year.

Mr Green said Mr Greenwood lived alone, only a few doors along from Visockis who had befriended him a few weeks before.

Visockis had helped Mr Greenwood to carry in his shopping from the mobility bus and offered him food.

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He would borrow sums of £10 or £20 from the pensioner on a Monday and pay it back three days later when he had been paid, Mr Green said.

The jury heard that Mr Greenwood had impaired mobility and speech.

He gave his police statement on a video link, assisted by a trained intermediary.

The court was told that Visockis went round to Mr Greenwood's home on the day of the alleged robbery to borrow some cash but the pensioner refused, telling him he was fed up of lending him money.

"The prosecution's case is that this defendant did not take no for an answer.

"He grabbed Mr Greenwood by the arms and pinned him to the settee. He took his wallet from his pocket, took out two £10 notes and then left," Mr Green said.

The jurors were showed photos of bruises on Mr Greenwoods arms.

When his friend called round at 4pm that day to take Mr Greenwood's dog for a walk, he found him distressed.

"He was very upset, and crying and shaking, and he showed him his bruises," Mr Green said.

Mr Greenwood told his friend: "The Polish lad held me down on the settee, took out my wallet and took £20."

The police traced Visockis because his number was stored on Mr Greenwood's phone, the jury heard.

He was arrested the same day and said he was round at Mr Greenwood's home and they had argued.

But he alleged the row was about Eastern European workers coming to the UK to take British people's jobs.

Visockis denied asking Mr Greenwood for money or taking any from him.

The trial continues.