Teacher tells court of knife attack by ex-boyfriend

Mr Jones allegedly also tried to strangle Ms Kirk during the attack

A teacher has told a court how she was attacked by her boyfriend who would not accept their relationship had ended.

Matthew Jones, 28, allegedly stabbed Emma Kirk, 24, about 15 times with a knife, inflicting multiple injuries to her neck, head and face in Bath in February.

Bristol Crown Court heard how Mr Jones allegedly attacked Miss Kirk because he would not accept she did not want to see him again.

Mr Jones denies attempted murder but has admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Ms Kirk, a secondary school teacher, told the jury she and Mr Jones had become friends while completing their training at university in 2022.

She said over the next 18 months they became "very close" and were intimate on a couple of occasions.

"By the end of November or early December I decided I wanted to put some boundaries up in our relationship," she said.

The court heard Miss Kirk and Jones agreed to meet in a lane near her home because he wanted back gifts he had bought her.

'Scared of him'

Michael Haynes, defending, suggested to Ms Kirk she was scared of Mr Jones, and took a knife with her.

"What I am going to suggest is what happened at the incident is that when you met Matthew you threw the bags down on the floor and you were terrified and scared of him and you were going to get him arrested and that's when you ran off," Mr Haynes said.

Ms Kirk replied: "That's incorrect."

"He took the knife out of his pocket. I ran away and he chased me with the knife and tackled me to the ground and stabbed me repeatedly," she said.

It took five men to drag Mr Jones off Miss Kirk and even then he tried to strangle her during the attack in Bath in February, the jury was told.

An off-duty police officer, members of the public and paramedics went to assist her in the lane close to Dransfield Way and administered first aid.

Mr Jones, of Ivy Avenue, Southdown, Bath, denies attempted murder and having an article with a blade or point in a public place, but has admitted causing GBH with intent.