A MAN who told a jury he was framed for an armed raid on a post office walked free from court yesterday.

The jury took only half an hour to accept Alan Harrison's story that he was not the gunman in a balaclava who left empty-handed after terrorising staff at a Teesside post office.

A man who gave evidence against Mr Harrison, 29, claimed Mr Harrison told him he was going to carry out the robbery, and that, moments later, Mr Harrison ran out of the post office with the gun and rode off on a BMX bike.

Another man said that Mr Harrison later left the gun and hood at his home, from where the police seized them.

The friend alleged that Mr Harrison told him he raided the post office, in Skelton Court, Middlesbrough, because he was desperate for money.

There were no customers in the shop at 4.50pm on January 23, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Cashiers Simon Mitchell and Stephen Raine were terrified when the robber rushed in with the gun, said Stephen Duffield prosecuting. They ducked below the counter and pressed the alarm button, and the intruder ran out.

There was no DNA or fingerprints to link Mr Harrison to the robbery, but some of the events were caught on security video.

When the jury returned their verdicts, Mr Harrison told them "Thank you" before he was discharged by Judge George Moorhouse.

Mr Harrison, of Eldridge Green, Pallister Park, Middlesbrough, was found not guilty of attempted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent.