A Suffolk man was shot in the head with an air pistol and hit with a metal bar during a burglary at a flat in Lowestoft, it has been alleged.

Andrew Price was grappling with one of the intruders in his bedroom when he felt something pressed against the back of his head and turned to see 19-year-old Thomas Dave holding a gun, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Dale told Mr Price: “You are going to die” and Mr Price then heard the gun go off repeatedly.

“It sounded like a real gun,” said Christopher Kerr, prosecuting.

Mr Price knocked the gun out of Dale’s hand and he and Dale started fighting. While this was going on 25-year-old Daniel Howarth picked up a metal bar and allegedly hit Mr Price repeatedly to the head and arms.

Following the incident Mr Price was found to have a pellet embedded in the right side of his head which was removed under a local anaesthetic.

Another pellet was embedded in the right side of his neck and was removed during surgery under a general anaesthetic, said Mr Kerr.

Dale, of no fixed abode, has admitted having an imitation firearm, namely an air gun, having ammunition in a public place, aggravated burglary and causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Price with intent.

Howarth, of Carlton Square in Carlton Colville, has admitted aggravated burglary.

Before the court today (Monday) were Emma Hales, 31 of Denmark Road, Lowestoft, and Hayley Capps, 30 of St Edmunds Crescent, Kessingland, who have both denied aggravated burglary at a flat in High Street, Lowestoft with Dale and Howarth on August 27 last year.

The court heard that Mr Price had been staying at a friend’s studio flat in the High Street, Lowestoft and was allegedly known by the four defendants to have a considerable amount of cash and cocaine.

Mr Kerr claimed that Capps and Hales had been at the flat with Dale and Howarth and had left the property with cash and drugs belonging to Mr Price.

Following their arrest Capps and Hales denied seeing any weapons or seeing drugs and money while they were at Mr Price’s flat.

The trial continues.