A FATHER-of-three hit his ex-girlfriend in self-defence after she tried to attack him with a hammer, a court heard.

Dewayne Mason, of Humfrey Road, Barton, is accused of one count of grievous bodily harm with intent on February 15.

The 38-year-old denies attacking ex-partner Jemma Cadle at her home in Warren Crescent, Headington.

Mason told jurors at Oxford Crown Court yesterday he followed 34-year-old Ms Cadle into her bedroom after she opened the door to him during the early hours of the morning.

He said the pair were talking when Ms Cadle became “aggressive” after hearing he had spent Valentine’s Day with a female friend.

The defendant said the alleged victim then grabbed a hammer from the window and tried to “swing” it at his head.

Mason said he grabbed Ms Cadle and hit her a “maximum of three times”, which lasted just “seconds”, only to protect himself.

He added: “I was not getting hit by that. I did not want to hit her or anything like that. It was just my natural reaction.

“I never wanted to hit my hand on her at all but at the same time I did not want to end up in hospital.

“The things she is saying, it’s just to try to make everyone think I’m some sort of mental nut case.”

Mason told jurors he saw Ms Cadle bleeding and went to get her a tissue to wipe her face before leaving the house and getting a taxi home.

During cross-examination, prosecutor Beth Crocker said Mason’s banging on Ms Cadle’s front door was “persistent” and “constant”, causing her two dogs to bark.

He replied: “That was to wake her up.”

Ms Crocker added: “Your behaviour whilst knocking that door was aggressive and you were trying to get into that house.”

Mason replied: “Because I probably wanted to go to the toilet. I just wanted to make a noise to make the dogs alert her.”

The trial continues and Mason was remanded in custody.