A 28-year-old man accused of carrying out a late-night knife attack has blamed a fellow drinker for the stabbing.

Simon Noble told a jury at Bradford Crown Court yesterday he had not attacked Paul Murphy in the street outside The Pile Bar club and suggested his then-friend, Darren Watson, could have been responsible for the knife wound to the 20-year-old's throat.

Noble, of Hall Road, Eccleshill, admitted "flashing'' a knife at another young man, Chris Kelly, but claimed he had only done that because Mr Kelly had punched Watson's brother Mark to the ground and was kicking him.

Noble said Mr Kelly made a reference to him "needing a knife'' and added: "I turned to Darren and I passed him the knife. I said 'Here, get hold of that' because I was going have a fight with Kelly.''

Noble, who said he started carrying a knife because he had been warned about threats against him in relation to another incident, conceded that he had not seen Darren Watson attack Mr Murphy, but he denied being responsible for the stabbing himself.

During questioning by his own barrister Noble admitted telling a different version of events to the police and claimed that he had been "covering up'' for Darren Watson.

"Did you believe you would end up being prosecuted for this?'' asked his barrister Bryan Cox.

"No,'' replied Noble.

"Why not?'' pressed Mr Cox.

"Because I hadn't done it,'' answered Noble.

When pressed about how he thought Mr Murphy had been injured, Noble replied: "Darren Watson.''

Noble has pleaded not guilty to a charge of unlawfully wounding Mr Murphy with intent to do him grievous bodily harm in August 1998 outside the club, on Lilycroft Road. Darren Watson, also 28, of Rowlestone Rise, Eccleshill, has denied an allegation that he did an act intending to impede the prosecution of an offender.

The prosecution alleges Watson tried to help Noble by disposing of the blood-stained knife used in the stabbing.

His barrister Nikki Peers suggested to Noble: "Your evidence today is a pack of lies to try and point the finger at somebody else, isn't it?''

"Not at all,'' replied Noble.

The trial continues.