A MAN was stabbed with a steak knife as he lay on his settee before diving head first through a window to escape, a jury heard.

Derek Bowes allegedly saw his attacker holding a knife dripping with blood and saying: "You are going to die in here."

Mr Bowes fled his home in Cutler Close, Blackburn, by diving through the window and had hospital treatment for life threatening injuries, Preston Crown Court was told.

Ray Marsden, 35, of Wellington Road, Blackburn, is accused of attempted murder and an alternative of wounding with intent. He denies both charges.

A jury was told that Mr Bowes, in his late 30s, suffered a deep wound to the left side of his body that punctured his lung. Immediate surgery was needed and he spent a couple of days in intensive care.

Mr Bowes also had defensive type wounds to the arm and hand and a stab type wound to the groin.

Mr Mark Lamberty, prosecuting, said that on May 27 the defendant visited the ground floor flat and appeared drunk. Mr Lamberty said a dispute took place about drugs.

But according to the defendant's account to police, Marsden went round to see Mr Bowes because he had obtained drugs using the defendant's name and was getting drugs on credit.

In court, Marsden claimed that he himself was the one under attack and that he pushed Mr Bowes away.

He said he had no intention of having any argument or fight when he called at the flat.

The defendant claimed Mr Bowes was sat up, finishing injecting himself when he called. There was some conversation and Mr Bowes jumped up, he alleged.

Marsden told the court: "He just launched at me with a barbecue fork thing. He was saying he was going to kill me.

"I was too quick at dodging him. I didn't have anything in my hand."

Marsden said he stumbled over and landed on a knife which he picked up.

His barrister Mr Mark Stuart asked him why he picked up the knife. The defendant replied: "I was in fear for my life.

"He launched at me again and I pushed him away. He kept launching at me, then he said I had stabbed him."

Mr Stuart then asked him: "Did you intend either to kill him or cause him really serious bodily harm?" Marsden responded "No".

Marsden said the man managed to take hold of the knife: "He said he was going to kill me and dived through the window. I was in shock really."

He described Mr Bowes as having been agitated during conversation, but when the incident had started he was "like a raving lunatic".

(Proceeding)