'Robin Hood' denies sword attack

Edward McDonald admitted to carrying a sword while busking

A man who dresses like Robin Hood has told a court he did not attack his neighbour with a sword.

Edward McDonald who has a penchant for wearing green, medieval-style clothing, said he was in a coma-like stupor at the time of the attack, after taking flu medication.

But he did tell jurors his neighbour Thomas Blackman made his life a misery with constant noise.

Mr McDonald, 59, from Hastings in East Sussex, denies wounding with intent.

Chinese water torture

The defendant is often seen in his home town dressed as Robin Hood and likes to be addressed as Count McDonald.

Lewes Crown Court heard he stormed round to his neighbour's Stonehouse Drive flat last July to confront him about the amount of noise he was making.

He is accused of attacking Mr Blackman with a three foot sword, fracturing his arm and cutting through its flesh as far as the bone.

Mr McDonald told police he had been asleep at the time of the incident.

In court on Wednesday, he said his flu medication had left him in a coma-like stupor.

He told the court Mr Blackman constantly made knocking, rattling and pounding noises which "felt like Chinese water torture".

He said he struggled to sleep because of the noise and admitted he would openly criticise Mr Blackman when talking to other neighbours.

Mr McDonald also admitted he sometimes carried a sword while busking, but denied using it to attack his neighbour.

The trial continues.