A MAN pointed an imitation shotgun at the mother of a Bradford man convicted of murder, a court heard.

John Lowther, 26, is also alleged to have smashed a window at the home of Karen Calvert, during the incident in Stirling Crescent, Holme Wood, Bradford.

Prosecutor Mehran Nassiri told Bradford Crown Court that the case involved two groups - the Calverts, and the defendant and members of his family and friends.

He said Karen Calvert was the mother of Lee Calvert who, with others, had been convicted of the murder of Barry Selby, and received life imprisonment.

Mr Nassiri said that on Friday, June 12 this year, the Calverts had invited a number of friends to a party. They were having drinks inside and outside the property.

At 7.45pm, a white Vauxhall Zafira car stopped outside and a number of people, including the defendant, got out. They demanded the return of a motorbike they said had been stolen.

Lee Calvert's sister, Kelly Calvert, took out her mobile phone and recorded the incident.

Mr Nassiri alleged that Lowther went to the car, picked up a jack and threw it through the living room window, before the men left. He said the Calvert family was "shocked, petrified and scared."

He said that a couple of hours later, a different Vauxhall Zafira stopped outside the house.

Mr Nassiri said a number of men, in balaclavas and gloves, rushed out. He said they had in their possession a golf club or a metal bar and ran towards the house.

He said a witness saw the face of the defendant, the rest of the men were wearing balaclavas.

"He was holding a shotgun, or what appeared to be a shotgun, at his side. He then brought it up, holding it with both hands towards Karen Calvert."

Mr Nassiri alleged Lowther used the back of the firearm to smash a glass. Shards of glass caused injuries to the face, arm and hand of a woman. The rest of the men smashed glasses and windows of the house and left.

Mr Nassiri said: "The one person not wearing a balaclava was the defendant."

The prosecutor said the firearm had not been examined, so the Crown could not say whether it was real or imitation.

Lowther was identified. He handed himself in at a police station and was interviewed. But Mr Nassiri said there was a technical difficulty with the recording of the interview, which had been corrupted and lost.

The phone footage was played to the jury.

Kelly Calvert told the court her six-year-son was left terrified and crying by the first incident.

Stephen Wood, defending, said there was no dispute that Lowther had thrown the jack but Miss Calvert was mistaken in her suggestion that he was present in the second incident.

Miss Calvert said she had recognised him by his clothes.

She rejected Mr Wood's suggestion that the bike incident had been “set up” in an attempt to film a woman doing something that would discredit her because she had given evidence in Lee Calvert’s murder trial.

Lowther, of Denbury Mount, Holme Wood, pleaded not guilty to affray and possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

The trial continues.