A claw hammer was used to fracture a man’s skull in Mildenhall after an argument a court has heard.

Martin Quince, of Market Place, in the Suffolk town denies grievous bodily harm, possession of drugs and an offensive weapon. 

The 43-year-old is accused of hitting the victim over the head with a hammer after confronting him.

Ipswich Crown Court heard on Wednesday the victim had been arguing loudly in the street with his wife and was then confronted by another man who told him never to hit a woman. 

The prosecution said the victim and his wife had been out for the evening.

In the early hours of 12 November last year the couple began arguing with the prosecutor saying the victim's wife had been drinking.

It was then heard that Quince and a man by the name of Phil became involved in the dispute.

A witness, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court that as the couple were arguing in Market Place, the man called Phil leaned out of his flat window and shouted “you dare hit a woman and you’ll be hit yourself”.

The defendant was also said to have been at the window, but this is disputed by the prosecution.

The prosecution said Phil then went down to the victim.

The witness who cannot be named and his friend were there at the time as his friend lives in the area, the court heard.

They followed Phil toward the victim to make sure he did not end up in a fight.

Threats were exchanged and then Quince joined the dispute, the court heard.

It was then said that the defendant did not say anything but as he moved produced a hammer from his sleeve and used by swinging at the victim's head.

The witness described the impact noise as a “wet metal connection sound”.

He said: “He fell straight to the floor, and he was snoring like he was asleep and there was blood pouring out of his head and down the side of the road.” 

He told the court that Quince then said: “If he isn’t dead, I will make sure next time”.

A man was seen on CCTV depositing something in a nearby wheelie bin and police later found a claw hammer in the bin, the prosecution say this man is Quince and that hammer was his.

However, defence barrister Nicola May has suggested Quince did not have any physical contact with the victim at all, and instead suggested it was the friend of the witness who described the attack that hit him.

Evidence was also heard from the victim's wife, who said she eventually walked off angrily from him.

The victim's wife came back and saw her husband lying on the ground and began shouting his name and dialling 999, the court heard.

The trial continues.