AN Ipswich man has been cleared of robbery.Liam Senior, told Ipswich Crown Court he had been framed by a former friend who had a grudge against him.The jury took less than two hours to return a unanimous not guilty verdict.

AN Ipswich man has been cleared of robbery.

Liam Senior, told Ipswich Crown Court he had been framed by a former friend who had a grudge against him.

The jury took less than two hours to return a unanimous not guilty verdict.

The court heard that a man called Peter Clarke informed police that he had been robbed by Senior.

He said he had been at Robert Howlett's house in Felixstowe and had met Senior there.

He said he gave Senior a lift home to Ipswich and Senior had robbed him. Senior, 22, of Maple Close, Ipswich, denied robbery and said he had never met Mr Clarke before.

He said Mr Howlett held a grudge against him and had planned the fake crime with Mr Clarke to get revenge.

Senior told the court he and a friend had once lived with Mr Howlett in Felixstowe.

He added that his friend had been giving Mr Howlett heroin to pay for the rent. Senior said the house had been "busted" by police and Mr Howlett had become angry with him.

"Rob blamed me for being busted because he could not blame the other person because he was scared of him," he said.

The court heard that Senior had been to Mr Howlett's address on February 13 in search for some other friends.

Senior said Mr Howlett "had been as good as gold" although it was the first time they had met since their falling out. He then left and caught the train back to Ipswich.

Later that night Mr Clarke alerted police in Chantry near Senior's address and told them he had given Senior a lift home from Mr Howlett's and Senior had robbed him.