A former British Airways cargo worker accused of s

A former British Airways cargo worker accused of slashing a teenager’s face was chased by a gang of youths moments before the incident, the Old Bailey heard today.

(WED)

Sarish Chand, 29, is said to have attacked teenager Ben Harrison with a Stanley knife in an unprovoked late night attack.

The jury has heard how the eighteen year-old needed 29 stitches for a cut that ran from his nose to his eyebrow.

Mr Chand lost his job working for the airline as a result of the incident.

But Kevin Savage, 58, a friend of Mr Chand’s, claimed today an aggressive group of teenagers had started the trouble.

The pair had met up at the Moon Under Water pub in Staines Road, Hounslow, on the evening of May 27 last year, said Mr Savage.

After a few drinks they had moved on to the Yates Wine Lodge for another drink, before heading for the nearest cab office.

‘As we got into Staines Road, past Safeway the pavement narrows and there was a crowd in front of us,’ said the engineer.

‘They were walking abreast blocking the pavement.

I think there were three youths and three girls.

‘

Mr Chand asked if they could get past the group, according to Mr Savage.

‘Something was said.

I can’t really tell you what it was.

Something was said by one of the youths.

‘I was nudged in the back and went into a puddle.

‘I got up and saw Mr Chand look at me and I sensed there would be trouble and I told him to go, just go.

‘I got up and walked towards the cab office, got my mobile phone out of my pocket and phoned the police.

‘

He told the court he saw Mr Chand running down the street.

‘They started running after him.

They left me and started chasing him down the street.

‘

Mr Savage said he waited for the police before telling the arriving officers: ‘my friend is being attacked.

‘

He was taken to Hounslow police station where police told him there had been a knifing.

‘I was shocked and I thought I could be accused of it.

‘

The jury was told he was soon released without charge.

He denied the prosecution’s claim that he or Chand had demanded cash or drugs from the group.

Chand, of Northern Road, Manor Park, Slough denies one charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and one of unlawful wounding between May 26 and May 29 last year.

The trial continues.

ends