A HAVE-A-GO hero who tried to protect a disabled man ended up getting stabbed in the chest, a court heard.

Shaun Boyles, 49, went to help Andrew Jackson when a man grabbed his crutch, pushed him over and started kicking him.

Mr Boyles confronted Roger Bruce, 29, and the alleged attacker ran back inside his flat in Stanley Wooster Way, Colchester.

He emerged moments later with a wine glass and Mr Boyles pushed him because he thought he was going to resume the assault.

The next thing he knew Bruce stabbed him in the chest, Chelmsford Crown Court was told.

He spent three hours having the blade, which penetrated to a depth of 4ins, removed by doctors.

John Livingstone, prosecuting, said: "Such was the force the blade of the knife broke off from the handle.”

Police found the handle when they searched Bruce’s flat.

Bruce claims he was acting in self defence during the incident on June 21 this year.

The jury heard how Mr Jackson and his friend Tony Cole are disabled and were sitting in deckchairs in the car park of the flats.

There was a background of problems between Mr Jackson and Bruce, the court heard.

Bruce came out his flat and started teasing Mr Jackson.

Mr Livingstone said: "Mr Jackson had a pair of crutches and Bruce grabbed them and started dancing around with them.

"Mr Jackson got up and was quite unsteady on his feet and tried to get his crutches back but he was pushed to the ground by Bruce who then started kicking him.

“ Fortunately, his injuries were not serious."

Mr Boyles' wife saw what was happening from her kitchen window and told her husband to go and help Mr Jackson.

Mr Livingstone said: "Mr Boyles went out and saw Mr Jackson on the ground with his hands protecting his head and Bruce kicking him two or three times.

"Mr Boyles asked what he was doing and Bruce ran back inside."

Bruce emerged moments later carrying a wine glass in his left hand and Mr Boyles said he pushed him because he thought Bruce may have been coming back to resume the assault on Mr Jackson.

The next thing he knew, he thought Bruce had punched him in the chest with his right hand but it turned out to be a stab wound.

Bruce went back to his flat but came out again and told Mr Boyles: "I don't want no trouble. Don't press charges."

By this time, an ambulance and police had been called and Mr Boyles pointed to Bruce and said: “He did it".

Later on Mr Boyles told police: "He stabbed me, I'll put him in hospital if I get the chance."

Bruce denies charges of wounding, assault by beating and possessing a knife in public.

He told police he had acted in self defence after Mr Boyles had a go at him.

  • The trial continues.