A businessman told a jury he feared he would be killed when raiders stormed his home and attacked him.

George Neal (66), who runs three hairdressing salons, pretended he was having a heart attack before the gang ran off, taking £50,000 of valuables and cash.

Mr Neal said he had earlier challenged the four men as they were in the garden of his five bedroom detached home in a village south of Leicester.

They chased and grabbed him, manhandling him indoors.

He was forced to his knees and hit on the back of his head with an extendable baton, as they demanded his safe key.

Giving evidence, he told Leicester Crown Court he was "terrified" and could not remember where he left the key, until one of the raiders found it in a vase.

He was manhandled around the house and also beaten "really hard" on the back of his legs, causing bruising, he claimed.

He told the jury: "I thought I was going to die. One of them shouted 'get a knife.'

"They threw me into a corner and I landed on a sofa.

"They were running around the house grabbing what they could. I thought they'd kill me when they left.

"I've had a couple of heart attacks in the past and one of the men came in with my medication, ripping open the bag.

"I pretended to have a heart attack. I fell to the floor and begged the man to give me my medication, but he didn't and went through the pockets of my coat instead.

"One of the men was shouting 'let's go' and they ripped the phones from the wall.

"I lay there for about 15 seconds. I was frightened to move. I heard a roar of a car and then ran upstairs to call the police."

The raiders emptied the safe, which had contained more than £3,000 cash as well as a two-carat diamond ring valued at £29,000 and a £5,800 pair of diamond earrings.

They also stole antiques, cameras and five laptop computers.

Akin James (33), of Warren Drive, Rushey Mead, Leicester, Ashley Harrison (30), of Upper Tichborne Street, Highfields, and Curtis Richardson (31), of no fixed address, all deny aggravated burglary and causing actual bodily harm to Mr Neal on August 31 last year.

They claim the alleged victim and his son recruited them to stage a fake burglary in an insurance scam.

When cross-examined and accused of making a false allegation against the defendants Mr Neal strongly denied the claim.

He said: "I can't tell you how angry I am.

"I was the victim of a savage attack where I thought I was going to die and this absolute cock and bull story is now being put forward. I don't believe it."

The trial continues.