A man who has denied bursting into a neighbour’s home and hitting her on the head three times with a hammer told a jury he was also attacked during the fracas in Bradford .

Craig Cordingley, 38, told Bradford Crown Court yesterday an Asian drugs gang had instigated the assault at a house in Little Horton Lane.

He denies aggravated burglary and wounding Kelly Bourgaise in the early hours of April 27 with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm.

Cordingley, of Little Horton Lane, told the jury he had been growing an expensive strain of cannabis for some Asians, who had supplied him with a cultivation tent and fans, but the plants had been seized by police in a raid on his home in March.

He said the Asians had not believed what happened and thought he and Miss Bourgaise had sold the plants to keep the money for themselves.

Cordingley told the jury: “The Asian people were not happy. They wanted their money cut out of it and did not believe the police had taken the plants.

“I’d had a phone call from them, making threats to come round to the house and break my legs and beat me up if I didn’t fork out for their loss. I believe Kelly suggested to the Asians I had taken those plants and kept money for myself.”

Cordingley told the court that shortly before the attack the Asians, who he only knows by nicknames, had turned up at his house wanting “to get the right story” and said it was them who had taken him round to Miss Bourgaise’s home “to get to the bottom of it”.

He claimed it was them who smashed their way into her house and that he was then struck with a lump hammer in the face before managing to escape the hectic scene of screaming and things being smashed.

He denied it was him who hit Miss Bourgaise on the head with a hammer, telling the jury: “If I’d hit her on the head three times with a hammer she’d have had severe injuries.”

Prosecutor Louise Reevell asked him: “I suggest what you are telling the jury is a pack of lies. It’s not about some Asians and drugs. It’s about a feud between you and Kelly.”

Cordingley responded: “No. Me and Kelly argue, but it would never go to such an extent. It’s nothing new to fall out with her.”

On trial with him are Martin Heaney, 21, of Seldon Street, Canterbury , Bradford, and John Troy, 25, of Chellow Street, Bankfoot , Bradford.

Both defendants plead not guilty to aggravated burglary.

The trial continues.