A MAN who was stabbed in the face said he was attacked because his former friend was jealous, a jury has heard.

A 16-year-old from Basingstoke, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of using a knife to stab his victim in an alleyway on January 12, this year.

A second trial started today (Tuesday) at Winchester Crown Court after a first trial was stopped earlier this month.

The teenager faces a charge of wounding with intent but has already pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and possessing a bladed article in a public place.

The jury was told that the defendant “maintains that he did not intend to cause really serious harm” to the victim.

The victim had gone to the One Stop, in Popley, for his family who were isolating due to Covid, when he was on his way home and was confronted by the teenager.

Prosecuting, Susan Cavender said: “(The victim) in the alleyway turned around and sees (the teenager) carrying a knife which he describes as a Rambo-style knife and he says it was being pointed towards him.

“As (the teenager) comes towards him he said he was going to stab him.

“He describes that he tried to move out the way as (the teenager) has missed him on the first attempt but (the teenager) comes at him again.

“It was on the third or fourth attempt that (the teenager) came towards him and he received a stab to his face.”

Ms Cavender said that the defendant was the “aggressor throughout” the incident.

The jury was shown a video interview carried out with the victim, who said that the teenager was “throwing his arm with force”.

When asked why he thought he was attacked, the victim said: “I think it is just down to jealously about the fact that I had left them and started doing better than them.”

The defence claim that the teenager stabbed the man by accident as they were tussling in the alleyway.

Defending, Audrey Archer said: “He (the teenager) was saying to you that you used to be good friends and now all you seem to do is grass him up.” The victim denied this.

Ms Archer has alleged that the defendant did not have the knife in his hand when he entered the alleyway, but pulled it out of his trousers during a “heated row”.

The trial continues.