An Ipswich man accused of having a knife when he confronted two traffic wardens after they asked his brother to move his van has claimed he was holding a spoon.

Leroy Russell allegedly approached the civil enforcement officers after they saw a white van parked unlawfully in a permit holders’ car park in Richmond Road and told his brother they wouldn’t give him a parking ticket if he moved the vehicle, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

When he went into a nearby property to get his keys Russell allegedly come out of the house and swore at the officers, said Daniel Taylor, prosecuting.

He was allegedly holding a knife and when the officers told him to put it down he refused claiming he was cutting up his dogs’ dinner.

He went back inside and when he returned without the knife he allegedly threatened to knock the enforcement officers’ “blocks off” and to “do something they needed to call the police for”.

Russell, 47, of Surbiton Road. Ipswich, has denied affray on July 5 last year.

Giving evidence Russell denied having a knife and claimed he was holding a spoon.

He admitted swearing but denied threatening the officers.

The trial continues.