Three in Bradford hammer attack terror jailed for total of 18 years (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Men burst into couple's home in Little Horton Lane in drug-fuelled assault

7:00am Tuesday 25th September 2012 in News By Jenny Loweth, T&A Reporter

Three men who burst into a couple’s home at dead of night wielding hammers in an attack fuelled by drugs and alcohol were locked up for a total of 18 years.

Gang leader Craig Cordingley, who smashed his way into the property in Little Horton Lane, Bradford, and struck householder Kelly Bourgaise on the head with a lump hammer, was jailed for ten years. Cordingley, 38, who was Miss Bourgaise’s neighbour and former friend, was said to have been taking crack cocaine and alcohol when he broke down her front door in the early hours of Friday, April 27.

His accomplices – Martin Heaney, 21, of Seldon Street, Canterbury , Bradford, and John Troy, 25, of Chellow Street, Bankfoot , Bradford – were each imprisoned for four years. The judge, Recorder Tom Bayliss QC, said they were “very much subordinates,” although one of them had a sledge hammer.

A jury at Bradford Crown Court yesterday afternoon convicted all three men of aggravated burglary by majority verdicts of ten to two.

Cordingley was also found guilty of unlawfully wounding Miss Bourgaise. He was cleared of the more serious offence of wounding her with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Recorder Bayliss said Cordingley set out that night “to mete out summary justice” in a dispute that left windows smashed at both his and Miss Bourgaise’s addresses the previous day.

“It must have been a terrifying ordeal for Miss Bourgaise and the others in the property,” the judge said.

During the trial, Miss Bourgaise wept as she told the jury she heard a “booming” noise after 1am and saw a sledge hammer smash a hole in the back door.

Cordingley then booted his way through the front door, shouting: “I'm in, lads.”

He punched her in the face and hit her on the head three times with a lump hammer.

Heaney and Troy also burst into the home she shared with her partner, Stephan Parada, although they did not offer her any violence.

Miss Bourgaise said relations with Cordingley soured when she stopped supplying him with crack cocaine.

He had previous convictions for assault and robbery.