A Suffolk man has denied standing in the road and brandishing a kitchen knife and a metal bar as his former girlfriend’s new partner drove towards him.

Giving evidence during his trial at Ipswich Crown Court, Tristan Giles admitted feeling a “bit annoyed” after seeing his pregnant former girlfriend’s car parked near Damien Hadley’s house and sending him a threatening text, which said: “I’ll get you one day.”

However, he denied standing in the road in Simons Cross, in Wickham Market, brandishing a knife and a metal bar and claimed Mr Hadley was the aggressor and had driven at him as he was crossing the road.

Giles, 23, of The Old Workhouse, Wickham Market, has denied damaging property, affray and having a metal bar and a knife in October 19 last year

He also denies sending a threatening telephone message two days earlier on October 17.

It has been alleged that Mr Hadley was driving along Simons Cross on October 19 last year when he saw Giles standing in the middle of the road.

He allegedly saw Giles, who had recently split up with his pregnant girlfriend, pull a kitchen knife with a ten-inch blade from the waistband of his trousers and noticed he was holding a metal bar in his other hand.

Mr Hadley tried to drive round him but as he did so Giles allegedly kicked out at the car, loosening the front bumper.

He had then allegedly struck the passenger side of the car with the metal bar.

Charles Kellett, prosecuting, told the court that Giles was in a relationship with Rebecca Greenacre from the early part of 2016 until around September or October last year.

On October 17 Miss Greenacre went to Giles’ home to pick up he rest of her belongings and while she was there he had allegedly damaged a door and a bed.

Later he had allegedly called her mobile phone and threatened to “take her head off”.

Mr Kellett alleged that Giles felt hostility towards Mr Hadley for “poaching” his girlfriend and this had resulted in the incident on October 19 when he allegedly damaged Mr Hadley’s car.

The trial continues.