A MAN accused of conspiring to attack a fitness instructor told a court he thought she would be given “a slap”.

Keith Harby, 39, of Long Easton, Nottingham, is accused of acting as the “go-between” to co-ordinate the attack on Kelly Batchelor, who was attacked with a hammer-type object outside Ashdown Leisure Centre in Poole, and with a weapon in her driveway in Wavell Avenue, it is alleged.

The incidents are said to have been masterminded by a man, who cannot be named, after his girlfriend became jealous of his relationship with Miss Batchelor.

The man, along with John Doyle, 35 of Alfreton, Derbyshire, and Ian Edgeworth, 26, of Northwood Road, Nottingham, have pleaded guilty to the charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

“It wasn’t going to be so serious as it has transpired to be,” Harby told the court. “It was just going to be a slap and break the car windows or something.”

Robbie Northridge, 19, of no fixed abode, and Lanelle Douglas, 27, of High Main Drive, Bestwood Village, Nottingham, are on trial with Harby. The trial continues.