A member of a Fenland family accused of being involved in the kidnap and assault of two victims said he had not got a temper, despite being banned from playing football after assaults on another player and a match official.

Norwich Crown Court heard how trouble flared after the death of Gertrude Frankham, in December 2012, at her home in Walpole St Andrew. It is alleged a woman, who was heavily pregnant, and her partner, were kidnapped on separate occasions and assaulted so she made a false confession that her partner had smothered the grandmother with a pillow and had been stealing from her.

Giving evidence, Thomas Chilton, 29, of Dades Lane, Wisbech, who has denied kidnap, false imprisonment and wounding with intent, admitted being banned from playing football after he assaulted another player when he was fouled. Chilton's barrister Mark Tomassi said the adjudication panel, which banned Chilton from playing football until May 2010 were 'impressed' by the defendant's behaviour at the hearing.

The court also heard Chilton was punished for a further matter where he assaulted a match official and has had his ban extended for breaching it by playing football since.

Mr Tomassi said: 'How would you describe your temper?' Chilton, who has a stammer, said he did not think he had a temper and thought of himself as a 'quiet boy' because of his speech. In cross-examination John Farmer put it to Chilton that he and Eddie Dolan Jnr went out to find the male victim, who it was suspected had taken items from his grandmother's house, so that 'the truth as you saw it could be beaten out of him'. Chilton insisted that was 'not correct'.

When previously asked by Mr Tomassi if he kidnapped the man he replied: 'No I did not.' He also denied he had falsely imprisoned anyone or had beaten or slapped the woman.

Five other defendants have already admitted their part in what happened. Other family members on trial are Violet Chilton, 57, of Dades Lane, who denies blackmail, false imprisonment and wounding with intent; Edward Dolan Jnr, 18, of Flower Farm Bungalow, Walpole, who denies kidnap, false imprisonment and wounding with intent, and Vanessa Frankham, 48, of Wisbech Road, Walpole St Andrew, who denies kidnap, blackmail, wounding with intent and robbery.

Jason Chilton, 27, of Dades Lane, has denied kidnap and false imprisonment and Diane Evans, 18, of Cherry Road, Wisbech, denies one count of false imprisonment, and a 17-year-old denies kidnap, false imprisonment and wounding with intent.

The trial continues.