A builder claimed he entered a quote for a Council grant to build an extension which was a third higher than necessary because of a deal with the householder.

Ashley Deacon, of building contractors JA McConville, was giving evidence at Bradford County Court where he is being sued by Lawrence Pickering for £11,000.

Mr Deacon's firm was given a £22,000 contract to build an extension for Mr Pickering's disabled son Ryan at his home at Romsey Gardens, Holme Wood. The extension was paid for through a Disabled Facilities Grant from Bradford Council and Mr Pickering claims the work was of poor quality or not completed.

But Mr Deacon claims Mr Pickering asked him for £2,000 and £500 for another man, Raymond Sutcliffe, for making sure he got the contract.

Mr Pickering denies asking for any money.

Mr Deacon told the court: "Raymond Sutcliffe approached me and simply said he had got a contract for me to do," Mr Deacon told the court. Mr Deacon said he was shown a document by Mr Pickering which showed Bradford Council's allowable prices for the work.

He said he was told to submit a quote for £21,840, which he did. Judge Peter Benson asked Mr Deacon what he would normally charge.

"The price for doing the extension and doing that work was a third above normal prices," he said. Mr Deacon said the normal price would have been about £15,000.

Mr Deacon claimed Mr Sutcliffe came round to his house at 10pm to get some of the money.

"He came in the house and said 'where is the other thousand? Pickering is blighting my life, he needs his money'. I went to the cupboard and gave it to him and said 'I never want to see you again' and that was the end of it."

When asked about whether he had got a receipt for the money from Mr Sutcliffe, Mr Deacon said he thought Mr Sutcliffe intended to pocket the £1,000.

"If Big Raymond had handed the £1,000 over we would not be in this court now," he said. Mr Deacon denied suggestions from Ian Pennock, for Mr Pickering, that he was a "self-confessed fraudster" and Judge Benson said he did not have to answer questions which might incriminate him.

"At the time I did not think it was a dishonest act," Mr Deacon said. "I was completely sucked into it."

Mr Pennock asked Mr Deacon about the width of the doors created during the work. Mr Deacon said building regulations stated they should be 840mm wide but some were only 800mm wide.

The court was told by Matthew Pearson, Bradford Council housing department's home improvement officer, that prices for work were calculated when at least one estimate had been submitted. He said figures were confidential.