A father accused of threatening his ex-girlfriend yesterday told a court the real victim in the case was his young daughter.

David Holmes denies sending threatening text messages to Kirsty Bradbury and then breaking down the door of her brother Ryan East's house in Buttercup Square, Greater Leys.

The 29-year-old of Arnold's Way, Cumnor, told the jury at Oxford Crown Court he did not enter the house during the incident in February and had only gone there to try to get Miss Bradbury's telephone number to arrange to see his daughter Kayla, then aged two.

He said: "I thought Ryan might give me her number or ring her for me.

"I had not seen Kayla for so long it was really getting me down."

Holmes, who denies three charges of putting a person in fear of violence or harassment, one of affray and one of possessing an offensive weapon, said one of his friends had taken an Alsatian dog to the house that evening.

He said: "I saw Ryan running down the stairs. He had a samurai sword and he hit the dog over the head with it.

"I knew it was going too far, I did not want that to happen. The dog was running around barking."

Holmes denied claims by Jonathan Coode, prosecuting, he was trying to create the impression he was the victim.

He said: "The only victim in all of this was my daughter."

The trial continues.