A MAN has told a jury how he was ‘stabbed and slashed’ with a knife outside Costa in central Reading.

Ervis Kola, 34, of Brighton Road, is on trial at Reading Crown Court charged with wounding Jetmir Noka in Butter Market on December 19 last year.

He has denied the offence, claiming he did not have a ‘weapon’ or anything similar in his hands at the time of incident.

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Mr Noka said the pair, both from Albanian, had first met a month before when Kola allegedly held a knife at him and his cousin for allegedly no apparent reason.

Prior to the alleged stabbing, Mr Noka said he had approached Kola seeking an explanation.

Opening the case, prosecuting barrister Neil King said: “Jetmir Noka and his friends were in Costa coffee and while they were there they saw the defendant who was there with his girlfriend.

“In the last few months or weeks, there had been some disagreements between them. Mr Noka went to speak to Ervis Kola, this is covered by CCTV.

“The two men walked together. Mr Noka has his hands in his pockets clearly, the prosecution say, no threat to Mr Kola.

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“Mr Kola produces an implement from his pocket. The prosecution say this must have been a knife due to what happened next.

“He repeatedly stabs and slashes Mr Noka to the face. First into the neck and then a slash right down the nose and face.

“He was then chased off by some of Mr Noka’s friends.”

The court heard Mr Noka needed staples and stitches for the wounds which have left scars.

Kola was ‘hiding’ in Itsu, a fast-food restaurant, when his girlfriend decided to call the police. Mr King said this was a ‘dishonest attempt to deceive officers.’

After police arrest Kola, the prosecution said he ‘presented himself as a victim’ and denies the offence.

“He said he never had a weapon or knife with,” said Mr King. “He never had anything in his hands. The prosecution say that must be a lie.

“You cannot cause [those types of] injuries with bare hands in a matter of seconds.”

Speaking to the jury, Mr Noka said he had approach Kola to ‘talk things over’.

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“I just wanted him to talk things over,” he said. “Not to stop and stab me. We’ve both Albanian living in a foreign country.”

The trial, which started on Tuesday (June 13) continues.