A MAN who had gone to help a friend move out of her lodging was 'slashed' in a knife attack by the home-owner as he tried to leave, a court heard.

Jonathan Simmonds, of Cherry Tree Way, Witney, denies wounding with intent, unlawful wounding, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intimidation.

UPDATE - Simmonds gives his version of events 

Prosecutors at Oxford Crown Court allege that the 54-year old attacked his victim - Andrew Betts - at his home on the afternoon of May 26 last year.

Mr Betts, jurors were told as the trial started yesterday, was at the Witney address helping friend Dawn McMillan move out.

During the move Simmonds arrived home, the court heard, and askede Mr Betts to leave the house.

As he was going to leave, prosecutors claim, Simmonds attacked him with a blade causing a large gash in his side needing stitching.

Outlining the case before the jury panel of five women and seven men prosecutor Jonathan Stone said that Ms McMillan was also punched in the head and later threatened by Simmonds on social media and in person at a police station.

Detailing the alleged attack Mr Betts took to the witness box yesterday and told jurors his version of what happened.

He said: "She [Ms McMillan] asked me to help her move her stuff. She asked if she could stop with me for a couple of weeks and I said yes of course you can.

"[That day] He came through the kitchen door, he came to us in the kitchen, he said 'you should not be here' to me. I said 'OK mate, I'm going'.

"I walked to the front door. As I was leaving he slashed me, I was facing away from him towards the door, he was behind me. I was just walking to the door, I was leaving as agreed in the kitchen, I didn't want any trouble."

He described feeling a 'sharp, slashing pain' when he was allegedly struck and a photograph of the injury appeared to show a large-sized gash in his side.

Mr Betts then told jurors he had punched Simmonds three times before fleeing the scene and later going to hospital.

During cross examination with defence barrister Peter Du Feu it was put to Mr Betts that he, together with Ms McMillan, had in fact been stealing items from the property and when Simmonds returned home he caught the pair in the act, assertions Mr Betts denied.

He went on to say that Mr Betts had first 'head-butted' Simmonds, causing an injury to the bridge of his nose, which Mr Betts again denied.

Jurors were also told of an alleged incident following the violence, in which Ms McMillan was allegedly intimidated by Simmonds.

Prosecutor Jonathan Stone said that messages sent to Ms McMilan made her feel 'threatened and petrified' and said that when she later decided to report it at a police station Simmonds was also there.

He starred at her and told her 'you are going down', jurors were told.

Simmonds denies all four charges and the trial, continues.