A TEENAGER who claimed he 'accidentally' stabbed another man after a feud erupted into violence has been cleared of intentionally harming his victim.

Elliot Ashman, of Withycombe Drive, Banbury, admitted during his trial one count of unlawful wounding and possessing a bladed article during an incident near his home address on the night of May 2.

The 19-year old had denied a count of assault by beating and possessing a blade during another incident a week earlier at Prescott Avenue, Banbury, on April 27.

As his trial ended at Oxford Crown Court yesterday he was cleared of wounding with intent during the May incident, and of the remaining charges relating to the April incident.

On the second day of the trial he admitted to unlawfully wounding his victim Qais Ahmed as well as having a knife.

Taking to the witness box he told jurors that he had only wanted to 'scare' his victim after he had made a series of abusive comments aimed at his mother and he just wanted the abuse to stop.

Ashman claimed that although he had chased Mr Ahmed with the blade and wounded him the stabbing had been an accident and that he was in fact trying to punch him but had hold of the blade in his hand at the time.

The jury also unanimously cleared him of any wrongdoing in an earlier incident where he was alleged to have punched a 17-year old 'multiple times' and threatened another with a knife.

Judge Maria Lamb ordered pre-sentence reports to be prepared and he will be sentenced for the two remaining counts at the same court on December 14.