'Intruder hit Little Horton woman on head with lump hammer'

Kelly Bourgaise wept as she told a jury she heard a “booming” noise at her property in Little Horton Lane, Bradford, and saw a sledge hammer smash a hole in the back door.

Miss Bourgaise said her neighbour, Craig Cordingley, then booted his way in through the front door, shouting: “I’m in, lads.”

She alleges he put her to the ground by punching her hard in the face and then hit her on the head three times with a lump hammer.

Cordingley, 38, of Little Horton Lane, who is on trial at Bradford Crown Court , has denied charges of aggravated burglary on April 27 and wounding Miss Bourgaise with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm.

Martin Heaney, 21, of Seldon Street, Canterbury , Bradford, and John Troy, 25, of Chellow Street, Bankfoot , Bradford, plead not guilty to aggravated burglary.

Prosecutor Louise Reevell told the court yesterday that all three defendants were known to Miss Bourgaise.

She was a cocaine addict who allegedly sold drugs to Cordingley but stopped supplying him when he did not pay her.

It is alleged that relations between Miss Bourgaise and Cordingley soured when she stopped handing over drugs.

After 1am on April 27, she, her partner Stephan Parada, and another couple staying at the house were woken by heavy banging at the back door.

Mrs Reevell told the jury Cordingley kicked in the front door and burst into the property with a scarf over his face.

It is claimed that Heaney, Troy and three other men followed him in.

Mrs Reevell said Cordingley punched Miss Bourgaise in the face, blacking her eye, before hitting her three times over the head with a hammer.

She may have blacked out before being treated in Bradford Royal Infirmary for head injuries.

The jury was told that Troy was wearing a balaclava but someone pulled it off.

He is said to have thrown a gatepost and a brick at the house as he ran off.

Mrs Reevell said the attack on the house was a joint venture.

The trial continues.