A man stabbed his rival in the arm with a rusty serrated blade before fleeing.

But Daniel Griffin insisted his alleged victim’s wound was caused during an act of lawful self-defence.

Griffin, 35, of Moore Close, Brenzett, stands trial at Canterbury Crown Court this week for wounding with intent and unlawful wounding against Daniel Christian.

The court heard a fight erupted between the two at an Ashford address in November 2019.

Griffin “headbutted and slashed (his victim’s) arm with a knife”, prosecutors insisted, with Mr Christian arguing it “was not possible” for the deep wound to his left elbow to be self-inflicted.

But defence lawyers told jurors Mr Christian carried the weapon to the address and flourished it towards Griffin during the tussle before becoming injured.

The court heard Mr Christian entered the property after becoming concerned for the welfare of a person, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

But Griffin, with whom he has bad blood, took umbrage and headbutted his rival, the jury was told.

Mr Christian told jurors the blow “left my lip hanging off” before Griffin re-appeared with a rusty serrated blade.

“All of a sudden Daniel Griffin was shouting at me, telling me I’ve got leave. I was pulled towards Daniel Griffin, he headbutted me splitting my lip.”

He told jurors the pair scuffled on the floor as a woman named ‘Tina’ watched on, then Griffin disappeared downstairs.

Moments later Griffin emerged with the 5-6 inch blade, Mr Christian said, adding: “His arm swung over the bannister and stabbed me in the arm.”

The court heard Griffin fled the address and police, who arrested him eight days later, discovered four other knives and a knuckle duster in his van.

Griffin gave a no comment police interview, adding only two of the knives were for legal purposes.

Meanwhile Mr Christian photographed his elbow wound and handed the evidence to officers.

He was treated with seven stitches to his elbow and five to his nose at Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital.

But Nicholas Hamblin, defending, labelled Mr Christian “bad tempered” with a history of “violence and abuse.”

He told Mr Christian: “I’m going to suggest your version of events are just not correct, you had a knife and you were injured.

“It was a result of you waving the knife around when Mr Griffin resisted you using it.”

“No, how could that happen, look where the wound is, that’s not possible,” Mr Christian replied.

Mr Hamblin added Mr Christian is subject to a fresh police investigation following allegations he stabbed Griffin in the leg earlier this year.

The trial continues.

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