A DEAF middle-aged man was attacked and robbed in a dark alley after leaving a nightclub in the early hours, a jury was told.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Edward Knowles, 53, was confronted by a youth, struck, poked in the eye and then stabbed while Catrina Biggs was said to have rifled through his pockets for cash.

Biggs, who told police she was known as a prostitute, claimed the alleged victim gave her £40 to perform a sex act on him and says she has "done business with him" twice before. The defendant, 25, of Belfield Road, Accrington, denies robbery in March.

The jury was told how Mr Knowles, who is profoundly deaf, suffered six stab wounds, other injuries and marks possibly caused by a needle during his alleged ordeal after he had left Afrikas nightclub to catch a taxi.

He was taken by ambulance to Blackburn Royal Infirmary, where he was given the start of a course of hepatitis vaccinations, after turning up at Accrington police station distressed and bleeding from the mouth and eye. Mr Knowles, giving evidence through a lip speaker, said he had been hiding when Biggs asked him for sex. He told the jury he said no and walked away. He said a lad then came around the corner and beat him up as he cried for help.

The man said the lad put his arm around his neck, punched him and put his thumb in his eye. Mr Knowles alleged the defendant then put her hands in his pocket to get money. She grabbed his cash while Mr Knowles was holding the lad. Mr Knowles said he then got hold of the defendants' hands, but was stabbed so he let go. Biggs took the money and the pair walked off together.

Jacob Dyer, defending, said: " I suggest she didn't put her hands in your pocket. You had already given her £40, but before a sex act or any sex took place, a lad came round the corner and attacked you. If anybody put their hands in your pocket, it was him." Mr Knowles said that was not true.

The court heard how the defendant told the police she had been to Afrikas with a man and his sister and had spoken to the complainant, "the old man," in the club.

She claimed the alleged victim waved her over and she knew he would give her money and not rip her off.

The defendant told officers Mr Knowles left the club, came back, said he had got some money and they got a taxi about 1.30am. They all got out in Accrington, Mr Knowles paid the fare. She alleged Mr Knowles then handed over money in a dark alley and she performed a sex act for £40. She then left him there and claimed she did not know how he came by his injuries. (Proceeding)