A TEENAGER stabbed another man after ‘a flurry’ of blows when a long-running feud exploded into violence a court has heard.

Elliot Ashman, of Withycombe Drive, Banbury, had denied the knife attack on the night of May 2 but as his trial at Oxford Crown Court continued yesterday he admitted one count of having a bladed article and another alternative charge of unlawful wounding.

The 19-year old maintains that he did not carry out a separate attack a week earlier on the night of April 27, on another alleged victim.

He denies a count of assault by beating in relation to that incident and of threatening a third man with a bladed article.

He also continues to deny wounding with intent the man in May.

As his trial continued CCTV footage played to the court appeared to show a car screech to a halt shortly after 8.30pm on May 2 at Withycombe Drive before Ashman leaps out and chases down victim Qais Ahmed.

After a brief pursuit Mr Ahmed is chased into a front garden where he is stabbed by Ashman who then flees on foot while the vehicle he was in is seen to drive off, driven by another person.

Mr Ahmed took to the witness box yesterday and told jurors that he had been struck ‘numerous’ times by Ashman during the ordeal.

He told the jury of five women and seven men: “I fell to the ground, numerous swings were taken at me with a knife by Elliot Ashman.

“He was aiming it at my chest, deliberately aiming at my chest. [He stabbed me] just the once.

“I didn’t realise because I had lost a lot of blood. [He swung] about three or four times.”

He said he had to dodge the onslaught and he was ‘rolling’ around to avoid the blows and added that he believed the blade was a kitchen knife with a blade that was roughly six inches long.

Eventually nearby residents came outside and chased off Ashman who fled the scene on foot.

Cross examining the victim, Peter Du Feu, on behalf of the defendant, said that Mr Ahmed had only been stabbed while trying to scramble over the wall and not lying on the ground.

He added that in the run up to the attack Mr Ahmed had been verbally abusive towards Ashman’s mother and had made derogatory comments including saying he would ‘rape her and make him watch’.

Mr Du Feu said that Mr Ahmed had also been abusive to police officers who attended, all assertions which he denied.

The stab wound, the court heard, was considered ‘superficial’ by doctors who treated Mr Ahmed and was 2cm in length requiring three stitches.

The alleged victim of the earlier incident which took place on April 27 also took to the witness box yesterday.

The 17-year old who is alleged to have been punched by Ashman told jurors that he had been struck ‘about 10 times’ during the incident at about 7.30pm at Prescott Avenue, Banbury.

Another witness who was present also said that he had seen Ashman carrying a knife at the time.

Ashman denies any involvement in the April incident and maintains that during the stabbing there was no intent on his part.

The trial continues.