A SALESMAN, named employee of the year, who was part of a masked robbery gang that attacked a couple to steal cannabis, was today jailed for seven years.

Thomas Christoforou, 25, shook his head as a jury at Bradford Crown Court found him guilty, after nearly six hours, of two charges of robbery.

He was told by the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC, that his part in the robbery had been to steal and transport the cannabis and he had been caught red-handed.

The jury had been told that four men, wearing balaclava masks, gloves and dark clothing, kicked in the door of a house in Leeds Road, Thackley.

One of the men pointed a knife or screwdriver at occupier Sean Barker and ordered him to get on the floor with a cushion over his head. Mr Barker's partner, Katie Sutcliffe, who was 15 weeks pregnant, was dragged from her bed and forced to go downstairs. Her four-year-old son slept through the robbery.

Christoforou was one of two gang members running in and out of the house bringing plants from the cannabis farm in the cellar to the front door.

Christoforou, of Park Road, Eccleshill, Bradford, was seen running out of the front door of the house by police and was arrested after a chase.

So far, he is the only member of the gang to be caught.

Christoforou told the jury he had been passing the house when he saw a pile of cannabis plants on the front doorstep and grabbed them. He claimed to know nothing about the robbery.

He was found guilty of robbing Mr Barker of cannabis and his mobile phone, but cleared of robbing Miss Sutcliffe of her purse.

In mitigation, his barrister, Jayne Beckett, said he had a problem with cannabis but it had not stopped him working and he had recently been named employee of the year.

He wept as Mrs Beckett said: "Everything that can be said about his life, other than his relationship with cannabis, is very positive. This is a ruined life and it is a great, great shame."

Jailing Christoforou, Judge Thomas told him: "It may be the seeds of all this lies in your misuse of cannabis.

"It is thought in many quarters cannabis is somehow a benign thing and doesn't do a great deal of harm. My experience in criminal courts is entirely the opposite."

He said the householders must have been terrified and there had to be a significant sentence.

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