A CONVICTED criminal accused of murder told a court he feared for his life as the man he allegedly killed brandished a knife in front of him.

Bradley Johnson, 48, took to the stand to give evidence in his trial for the murder of Steven Woodhouse, 30, of Park Road, Westcliff.

He is alleged to have stabbed Mr Woodhouse and robbed him of cannabis plants that were being grown in a warehouse at the rear of his scrapyard, along with co-defendant Paul Sultana, 46, of Green Lane, Ilford.

Johnson told the jury he had gone to the site to investigate a tip-off that drugs were being grown there, and they would be easy to steal.

He said he was approached by Mr Woodhouse after entering the yard at about 4.15pm on Tuesday, June 2, this year.

Johnson said: “I did not go to rob him, I had no intention of using force or violence.

“I was just going to have a look and then go back later to burgle it. I came out of the warehouse and saw Mr Woodhouse.

“I walked towards him, he was saying ‘come out, come out’ and he had a knife in his right hand.

“He was moving towards me and moving the knife.

“I was frightened and shook up a bit, I was frightened for my life and did not want to get stabbed.”

The court heard a scuffle broke out after Mr Woodhouse went to attack Johnson with the knife.

Johnson told the court he grabbed Woodhouse’s arm and the pair fell to floor, resulting in the fatal stab to Mr Woodhouse's heart.

Johnson, of Penn Road, Slough, claims Mr Woodhouse was able to get up and walk away.

He said: "How could I have stabbed him? He had the knife. When I left I did not know he was injured. I saw him get up and walk off and say ‘I’ll be back.’ “When I was arrested I was in shock, I could not believe it.

“The officer was saying I had murdered someone’ I was in shock, I never knew.”

The court heard Sultana bagged up about 15 cannabis plants in the warehouse while the scuffle took place.

Mr Woodhouse died in Southend Hospital, on Wednesday, June 3.

The trial continues.

ACCUSED DENIES HIDING BLOOD-STAINED JACKET

BRADLEY Johnson was accused of being a liar as he gave evidence.

Karim Khalil QC, prosecuting, told Chelmsford Crown Court the 48-year-old was a violent man who was previously jailed for 12 years for robbery.

The court also heard Johnson gave his mum's address to police when he was arrested, instead of the the address he had been living at.

Mr Khalil claimed this was so police would not find his jacket with Steven Woodhouse's blood on it. Johnson said: “I am not a violent man, not at all.

“I committed the robbery, but I was the getaway driver.

I was not violent.

“I am not a liar, I am honest.

I tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I always give my mum’s address, that’s where my car is registered, that’s where my bank accounts are.

“If I wanted to, I could’ve got rid of my jacket and car easily enough, but I didn’t know he was injured. I didn’t know he had died.”