A MAN who allegedly left a toddler in a vehicle with over a kilogramme of marijuana as he fled police officers early one morning, yesterday went on trial in the San Fernando High Court yesterday.

Jeffrey Sydney, of San Pedro, Poole is charged with having marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

He pleaded not guilty in the case being heard before Justice Anthony Carmona.

Attorney Jennifer Martin opened the State's case yesterday and called the first prosecution witness, Cpl Vincent Awong-Cole.

The officer testified that around 4 a.m. on November 3, 2000, he was on road traffic duty with other police officers at Tabaquite Road.

Awong-Cole said Sydney was signalled to stop his van by constable Ramkissoon, but he instead sped off and was chased by police officers in a patrol vehicle.

Awong-Cole said there was enough lighting for him to recognise Sydney, whom he had known of over 15 years, and he was familiar with the single cab pick up Sydney was driving that night.

The officer said that during the chase, the van turned into a dead end road and stopped.

"(Sydney) got out of the vehicle...and ran into the nearby bushes and escaped, leaving behind three persons, one of whom was a two-year-old boy," Awong-Cole said.

A search of the vehicle was done and in the back of the seat, Awong-Cole said he found a bag with marijuana.

A 15-year-old and a 17-year-old who were in the van, were arrested and taken to the Rio Claro Police Station along with the toddler, the drugs and the vehicle.

A warrant was issued for Sydney's arrest.

It was executed weeks later on December 6 and Sydney was arrested.

At the police station, Sydney was shown the drugs which weighed 1.98 kilogrammes.

He remained silent, the police officer testified.

Yesterday the marijuana was shown to the jury before it was tendered into evidence.

The warrant and a certificate of analysis were also reviewed by the panel before it was tendered by the State into evidence.

Sydney is being represented by attorney Wilston Campbell while attorney Chris Ramlal is appearing with Martin.

The trial is expected to continue this morning.