A traveller accused of murdering a father-of-three told a court he did not mean to cause him serious harm when he stabbed at him.

On Friday Kingston Crown Court heard Frank Smith, 30, of Corbet Close Hackbridge, described stabbing at Damon Weedon after claiming he was attacked by his pitbull terrier.

The incident happened at Mr Weedon’s home in Typhoon Way, Roundshaw, after the men had been drinking heavily after decorating Mr Smith’s partner’s house in Meteor Way on May 31 this year.

Mr Smith claimed that Mr Weedon had set his dog on him before jumping on him.

He told the court Mr Weedon looked as if he was going for a knife handle but he managed to get to it first and stabbed at him.

Today he told the court: “I didn’t actually think I had stabbed him.

“He didn’t seem to be hurt or anything. There was no blood on him or anything.”

“He jumped up and ran out. I just looked at myself to make sure I wasn’t hurt then I ran out as well.

“I ran out the door down stairs.

“I got out to make sure the dog wasn’t following me then I threw the knife. I haven’t got a clue where I threw it.

“I didn’t know where I was.”

Mr Smith was arrested by police officers in nearby Defiant Way who pointed out that he had blood on his sleeve.

Mr Smith told the court that at this point he thought that the worst he had done to Mr Weedon was to cut him.

He said: “I didn’t have any intention of hurting him.

“I was already stabbing at the dog.

“[Damon] jumped in and leapt at me. It was a natural reaction.

“[The knife] just looked like a bit of wood.

“I didn’t mean to cause him serious harm. I didn’t mean to hurt him.

“I didn’t know it was a knife at the time. I realised when he ran away.”

Mr Weedon was found by police slumped against railings in Redford Avenue, his arm impaled on the fence as he fell down.

He had received a stab wound to his face, and two stab wounds to his back, one of which proved fatal.

Mr Smith, who the father of three girls, denies murder.

The trial continues.