Plymouth man says attacks were in self defence

A MAN accused of punching and seriously injuring two people in separate incidents has claimed he acted in self-defence.

Aaron Nobes, aged 25, said he had been frightened of the men before lashing out, Plymouth Crown Court heard.

Nobes told the jury in one case he had just been punched and in the other he felt "terrified".

Nobes, of Wyndham Street, Stonehouse, is on trial after denying two counts of malicious wounding.

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He admitted punching George Donald, fracturing his cheekbone, when he complained about late-night noise at his home on September 8, 2010.

Nobes also admitted repeatedly hitting James Willumsen on the floor after they shared a cigarette outside a pub on January 25 this year. His nose was broken.

He told the court he had known Mr Willumsen through the city's music scene, but said their had been ill-feeling between them.

Nobes admitted he had asked Mr Willumsen for a cigarette outside the Skiving Scholar pub at North Hill and then refused to give it back.

He said Mr Willumsen then grabbed him around the back of the neck and punched him.

Nobes said they fell to the ground and he landed on top of Mr Willumsen. But he told the jury he punched Mr Willumsen "seven or eight times" to get free.

He added: "He was attacking me. I was frightened. I just wanted to get him away."

Mr Willumsen had earlier told the jury he had not grabbed Nobes around the back of the neck, but admitted he did after watching CCTV in court.

He denied punching him said his memory of the incident was blurred.

Speaking of the earlier incident, Nobes said Mr Donald had approached him aggressively to complain about noise at his home.

Nobes was staying there on the floor of a housemate, the court heard.

He said Mr Donald was "barking in his face" and making hand gestures close to him.

Nobes said he felt "terrified".

He added: "I did not know what he was going to do next."

Nobes admitted punching the man, but said he walked away not knowing he was badly hurt – having fallen on to a table.

He also said he did not know the police were hunting him until he was arrested after the second incident.

The trial continues, with the jury expected to retire today to consider its verdicts.