Maidstone Crown, where Spence is accused of a stabbing

by Keith Hunt

A confrontation between two men ended with one of them stabbing the other in the throat with a pair of scissors snapped in two to use as a weapon, a court heard.

Michael Clarke was left with blood pouring from his severed windpipe and in need of emergency surgery to save his life.

“I felt like I was drowning,” the 20-year-old roofer told a jury. “I couldn’t breathe. I felt like I had been strangled. Blood was coming from everywhere.”

The injuries were caused by Nathan Spence after Mr Clarke had struck the first blow with his fist, Maidstone Crown Court was told.

Spence, 25, is also alleged to have stabbed Mr Clarke’s friend Jake West with the scissors, wounding him in the back.

Catherine Donnelly, prosecuting, said the violence came after Mr Clarke’s girlfriend Elizabeth Gable told him Spence had assaulted her.

Mr Clarke was at Miss Gable’s flat in James Street, Gillingham, on September 10 when he saw Spence coming out of his home there.

"i felt like i was drowning. i couldn’t breathe. i felt like i had been strangled. blood was coming from everywhere" – 'victim' michael clarke

Miss Donnelly said there was “a staring stand-off” between the two men. Mr Clarke had been drinking and decided to go outside.

When asked by Spence what he was looking at Mr Clarke replied: “Just looking at a woman beater.” Spence told him: “If you have a problem, come out and say it.”

They met between the two flats and Spence denied attacking Miss Gable, known as Libby. The dispute seemed to be settled and they parted.

Spence’s girlfriend then sent Miss Gable a text saying there were people waiting outside.

Mr Clarke asked Mr West to go with him to make sure he did not get jumped.

“He said his clear intention was to hit Nathan Spence, punch him in the face to win the fight,” said the prosecutor. “He went straight up to him and punched him.

“He felt a blow to his throat, causing him to stumble back.”

Spence had snapped in half a pair of scissors and stabbed Mr Clarke in the throat and side. It was only while Mr West was at hospital that he realised he had been stabbed in the back.

“The Crown say even if he was acting in self-defence he has quite simply gone too far by almost killing Mr Clarke, cutting him in the neck,” said Miss Donnelly.

Spence, of James Street, Gillingham, denies two charges of wounding with intent and one of possessing an offensive weapon.

The trial continues.