One of the three men accused of murdering Paul Ackroyd denied any role in the alleged killing, saying: “The lad who did it ran off,” the jury heard yesterday.

Mohammed Jawaid Khan told a housing association team leader he was being bullied by drug dealers who had taken over his flat.

Kirsty Fountain told Bradford Crown Court that Khan came to see her on April 5, 2019, after being referred by Housing Options Bradford. He said he was homeless after his flat had been taken over by the police and he had moved in with his sister.

Miss Fountain said he told her he was on bail for murder and he hadn’t done it.

He said an assault started at his address and continued outside.

Khan told Miss Fountain: “The lad who did it ran off.”

He said there was a fight at the property and he did not take part in it.

Khan, 53, of Leylands Lane, Heaton, Bradford; Alex Bates, 19, of Eastfield Gardens, Holme Wood, Bradford; and Rashpal Singh Gill, 40, of Leeds Road, Bradford, deny murdering Mr Ackroyd, 37, who was known as Acky.

Kirsty Rushworth, 32, of Walker Avenue, Lidget Green, Bradford, denies assisting an offender by removing his body from a flat at 10 Jinnah Court, Manningham, Bradford. Gill and Khan also plead not guilty to that charge.

The jury has been told that Bates and Khan have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and Gill has admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

It is alleged that Mr Ackroyd was murdered in the early hours of February 23, 2019.

Prosecutor Peter Moulson QC has told the jury that he died as a result of injuries he sustained following an assault.

While he was dying his body was dragged out of the flat by Gill, Khan and Rushworth, it is alleged.

The court has heard that Gill, Khan and Rushworth were present at the scene when the police arrived. Bates had left and was arrested later.

The jury was told there were allegations of the supply of Class A drugs from the flat from the summer of 2018 until the time of Mr Ackroyd’s death.

A timeline of CCTV clips and phone calls from around the time of the alleged murder was presented to the jury this afternoon.

The trial continues.