Knife was embedded in man's face

A knife became embedded in a man's cheek as he tried to stop a fight in a Norfolk pub, jurors were told.

Ian James, prosecuting at Norwich Crown Court, said the knife had to be surgically removed from Martin Sparkes' left cheek.

Justin Bridges, 27, of Grays, Essex, who was arrested at Heathrow Airport on his way to a holiday in Thailand, denies wounding on 26 December 2003.

Mr James said Mr Bridges had tried to remove the knife from Mr Sparkes' face.

There appeared to be a knife handle sticking out of the left side of my nose Martin Sparkes

Mr Sparkes said he had gone to the Queen's Head at Long Stratton to watch a Norwich City football match.

He had been drinking cider and vodka when he saw two men in their 20s fighting and he tried to sort it out.

He could only recall being hit on the back of the head then sitting with a woman holding a tea towel over his face.

"There appeared to be a knife handle sticking out of the left side of my nose," he said.

He said he never saw a knife and could not say how it came to be in his face.

Mr Bridges, his step-brother Daniel Marsh, 24, of Maldon, Essex, and their father Roger Bridges, 50, of Lower Tasburgh, Norfolk, all deny affray.

The hearing continues.