A couple are alleged to have tried to murder a builder after a row over renovation work.

Builder Jeff King was punched and kicked to the ground and then stabbed in the neck with a screwdriver after a row, it has been claimed.

The incident in Ethelbert Gardens, Margate, was witnessed by a woman and her 10-year-old son. He was so “upset and scared” he asked his mother to drive away, the court heard.

Robert Symons,51, and Jenny Turrell, 49, of Birchwood Park Avenue, Swanley, have both pleaded not guilty to trying to kill the workman or, alternatively, wounding him with intent and to possessing an offensive weapon.

Prosecutor Dominic Connolly told Canterbury Crown Court how the couple had hired Mr King to do work on a house they owned in Margate.

“They were dissatisfied with the work he had done and refused to pay him what he thought he was owed.

“The dispute resulted in Mr King going around to their home and causing damage to their property – leading to him appearing in court on charges of causing criminal damage, “ he said.

The prosecutor said a few days later Mr King was walking in Ethelbert Gardens where he was living in February last year when he saw a red van drive past before reversing.

Symons, who is alleged to have been at the wheel, then drove towards Mr King trapping him next to a skip.

“Symons appeared at the back of the van. He was out of control. He was shouting..." - prosecutor Dominic Connolly

Mr Connolly added: “Symons appeared at the back of the van. He was out of control. He was shouting, although Mr King couldn’t understand what he was saying.

“Before he had a chance to do or say anything, Symons punched him to the face, followed by a number of further blows to his face and body," he claimed.

Mr King told police he felt his head being smashed against the skip and as he lay on the ground, Symons is alleged to have begun kicking his face, head and body.

Mr Connolly said Symons then disappeared and Mr King staggered to his feet and saw a woman sitting in a car and pleaded for her to wait until the police arrived.

"The next thing he recalls is seeing Turrell standing in front of him shouting and screaming. She swung her right hand at him and it made contact with his neck or face," the prosecutor claimed.

The builder thought he had been hit with a hand but then realised he was bleeding heavily – and saw Turrell holding a screwdriver.

Mr Connolly added: “The blade of the screwdriver was protruding from her closed fist. She kept moving towards him saying: ‘”I’l stab you again’.

"As he was backing away he felt another blow to the head and realised he was being attacked again by Symons," he claimed.

The incident was witnessed by motorist Clare Breakspear, who was sat in her car with her child, as the attack happened.

Mr Connolly said the mother told police how she saw Turrell holding a screwdriver behind her back and called the police.

"She looked up to see Turrell walking incredibly quickly towards Mr King. She was still shouting. When she got to King she struck out with her fist.

"Clare Breakspear saw Turrell stab Mr King a couple of times to his neck. She described to police how the blows were fast but she paused between each blow to shout and swear at Mr King," the prosecutor told the jury.

The two were arrested and Symons told police how Mr King, a man he had known for several years, had caused £20,000 worth of damage to his house.

He claimed that the two had argued near his van and he believed Mr King was reaching for a weapon in his bag and hit him “instinctively".

Turrell told police she admitted stabbing the builder in the neck with the screwdriver but claimed it was not on purpose.

Mr King was taken to Kings College Hospital in London but was later discharged.

The trial continues.

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