A DRUG user has denied carrying out a series of alleged robberies, one of which is said to have left a man with a broken skull.

Giving evidence at York Crown Court, Darren George Linsdell, 32, claimed one of the alleged victims had a fit in the street.

He alleged the second complainant, Mark James Maddison, made up a robbery story because he was angry that Linsdell and Linsdell’s girlfriend for two years, Storm Amber Elliott, 19, had used his money to buy heroin for themselves.

And he claimed the third complainant, George Smith, was a drug dealer who had made up a robbery story because Linsdell had taken 12 wraps of heroin from him without paying.

Mr Smith denies being a drug dealer and making up a story.

Linsdell, of no fixed address, denies three charges of robbery. Elliott, also of no fixed address, has admitted robbing the first man, but denies robbing the other two.

Leanne Calpin, 41, of Lawrence Street, York, denies robbing the first man.

The jury was discharged from returning a verdict on a fourth defendant, William Edward Howgego, 37, of Wycliffe Avenue, Tang Hall, who has denied robbing Mr Smith.

Judge Andrew Stubbs QC told them he had decided Howgego’s trial would restart on another date after hearing legal submissions.

The jury heard Linsdell has previous convictions for robbery, burglary, aggravated taking of a vehicle and affray.

Linsdell alleged he had used drugs since he was 13.

He denied that he had been seeing where the first alleged victim kept his money when he looked through the window of the One Stop Shop in Walmgate as the other man was buying beers for Linsdell and his friends.

He claimed the first complainant collapsed as he was walking down Mill Street towards Piccadilly with Elliott about half an hour later.

He alleged he was ashamed of running off after the first alleged victim fell, and not helping him. The jury has heard the man’s skull was broken when he hit the ground.

Linsdell denied he had a Stanley knife with him when he went to Mr Maddison’s home nearly a year later.

He claimed he never carried a knife and that he had been invited into the flat.

He denied threatening Mr Maddison or his uncle, or forcing him to go to a cash machine to take out money.

He claimed he bought drugs “nearly every day” from Mr Smith, who has previous convictions for possessing drugs including heroin. He alleged he had gone to Mr Smith’s house to buy drugs, but Mr Smith had told him to get out, so he had picked up drugs and left without paying. The trial continues.