Man stabbed in the head in Market Drayton street row, court told
A man was stabbed in the head during an altercation in a Market Drayton street, a court heard.
Brad Birch is accused of assaulting Samuel Almond, causing him actual bodily harm, and being in possession of a knife.
The 21-year-old, of Red Bank Road, Market Drayton, is standing trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court after denying both offences.
Opening the case, prosecutor Dean Easthope said it happened as Mr Almond was walking down Shrewsbury Road with a group of his family and friends in the early hours of July 2 last year, after leaving the Joiners Arms pub.
He said Mr Almond’s girlfriend and another member of their group were attacked by Birch’s girlfriend Kara Green.
Mr Easthope said Birch then punched Mr Almond to the lip and grappled with him before pulling out a knife.
He told the jury that Birch hit Mr Almond to the top of his head with the hand he was holding the knife in.
The court heard Mr Almond was left with a two inch cut to his head and an injury to his lip.
Mr Easthope said: “The injury to his head is caused by a second punch to his head involving a knife.”
During a police interview, Birch claimed he had been the one attacked by Mr Almond’s group and that he had acted in self defence, denying ever carrying knives.
But Mr Easthope said Birch had been convicted of being in possession of a knife and assault charges a few weeks before.
Giving evidence, Mr Almond described how Birch “swung” at him, hitting him to the lip, and how he grabbed hold of Birch so he couldn’t hit him again.
He said he grappled with Birch for a few seconds and then saw him with a blade.
When asked how he was holding the knife, Mr Almond replied: “Like a dagger.
“That’s when he stabbed me in the top of the head with it.
“He lifted his arm up and stuck it in the top of my head.
“I felt a sharp shooting pain. I pushed him back and said you’ve stabbed me haven’t you?”
Mr Easthope said there had been problems in the past between the parties.
He told the jury that Kara Green, 18, of Shrewsbury Road, Market Drayton, pleaded guilty to assaulting Lace Stance and Kirsty Sivill.
She stands to be sentenced at a later date.
The trial involving Birch continues.
