A man accused of offering a hitman £2,000 to break his former wife's legs has claimed he never intended the attack to be carried out.

Yamritlall Futhee told a jury at Bradford Crown Court that he had not planned to cause any harm to his former wife, Rookmala.

The prosecution allege that 50-year-old Futhee blamed his former wife for ruining him financially and was determined that she should not enjoy the money he had to pay her following their "acrimonious'' divorce.

After three meetings he agreed to pay £2,000 to a hitman known only as 'Billy' to break her legs and cause her brain damage, it is claimed.

The attack never took place because 'Billy' was an undercover police officer and their conversation at two of the meetings was secretly tape-recorded.

But Futhee, a voluntary nurse at Lynfield Mount Hospital, Bradford, insisted that although he was upset about the financial pressures caused by his divorce, he wanted to pull out of the agreement after his second meeting with the hitman.

"I had no intention to go with the plan he suggested,'' said Futhee. "But his postures, his expressions, his gaze were all quite threatening.''

He said the meetings had been arranged by a friend in whom he had confided about his marital and financial problems.

The friend had said he could not let him suffer, and he knew somebody who could "do something'' to his ex-wife.

When asked by prosecutor Graham Hyland QC why he had continued to meet 'Billy', Futhee said he had been pressurised into it by his friend.

Futhee agreed the divorce had cost about £45,000 and accepted that he had called his wife a "greedy bitch.''

"You thought she'd got everything and you'd got nothing,' said Mr Hyland. "That's correct,'' replied Futhee.

Futhee, of Thackeray Road, Ravenscliffe, Bradford, denies a charge of incitement to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

The trial continues.

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