Police are hunting a man who broke free from the grasp of two undercover officers during a sting operation into alleged pornographic video deception offences.

The police operation was started after the Telegraph & Argus advertising staff tipped off officers about their concerns over an advert claiming to sell adult videos.

One customer complained to the T&A after he had bought some of the video films only to discover they were all blank.

Two undercover police officers from Bradford Central police rang the telephone number in the advertisement and arranged to meet a man outside a Pudsey pub yesterday.

A man turned up in a battered red Vauxhall Cavalier shortly before 2pm and after a short conversation handed over a plastic carrier bag with six video films to the undercover officers in exchange for some money.

After showing their warrant cards the officers then asked the powerfully-built man to step out of the vehicle and attempted to arrest him.

After a brief struggle, during which one of the officers suffered a hand injury, the man broke free from their grasps and ran off along Stanningley Road and into a side street to make his escape.

Sergeant Chris Corkindale, the officer in charge of the operation, said: "We do not want people to approach this man - we just want to know who he is and where he is."

He added: "There have been a number of incidents in Bradford recently which we refer to as fresh air jobs where people sell something that is worthless.

"While we try to deal with every crime that is reported to us, the public are making it very difficult by getting involved through their own greed and allowing themselves to be duped."

The red Vauxhall, which police believe was stolen, and the tapes are now undergoing forensic tests.

Police described the suspect as of mixed-race appearance, about 6ft 4in tall and of a muscular build. Anyone with any information about his identity or whereabouts should call Bradford Central Police helpline on (01274) 376459 or Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.

e-mail: charles.heslett

@bradford.newsquest.co.uk